This update contains spaces for all the United States postage stamps issued during the first two months of this year. As usual, the supplement is intended only for collectors using The Philosateleian’s recommended quarterly update track. If you use the annual update track, or if you intend to begin using it, skip this update and wait until my full set of pages for 2026 is available early next year.
Thank you as always for your interest and support!
Pair of 14¢ American Indian stamps show printing variations
It has been a while since I added any variants to my 14¢ American Indian collection, but a couple of recent eBay purchases certainly fit the bill.
The first stamp is from the flat plate printing issued in 1923. The bottom arm in the “E” in “STATES” appears to be broken.
14¢ American Indian stamp with apparent broken “E” in “STATES”Detail of broken “E” in “STATES”
I can’t say that this is a plate flaw because I can imagine this variant being caused by a buildup of ink on the printing plate. Nevertheless, it caught my eye.
The second stamp is from the rotary press printing, and has what appears to be a pair of parallel diagonal scratches or gashes in the vignette to the left of Hollow Horn Bear’s face.
14¢ American Indian stamp with apparent parallel diagonal scratches or gougesDetail of apparent parallel diagonal scratches or gouges
Admittedly, I would probably need to find a second example of this stamp as well to say it’s a constant variety, but once again, it stood out to me when I was browsing.
New Shriners Children’s BRE features stamp-sized lighthouse, bird designs
Last week’s post office box check brought along a business reply envelope in a mailing from Shriners Children’s Hospitals.
The envelope has a pair of stamp-sized designs printed on it, one picturing a lighthouse and the other a blue bird sitting on a branch.
Shriners Children’sbusiness reply envelope
This is hardly the first BRE from Shriners that I’ve received, but I’d not previously seen these particular designs. Never know when something new is going to show up in the mail!
Purgatory Post commemorates covered bridge, Bob Weir with new stamps
After a little bit of a hiatus from issuing new stamps, New Hampshire-based Purgatory Post was back with two new releases in January.
The first, a 27-sola stamp issued January 21, pictures the Haverhill-Bath Bridge that spans the Ammonoosuc River between Bath and Woodsville. The Haverhill-Bath Bridge is New Hampshire’s oldest covered bridge, and it’s just a few years away from its bicentennial; the bridge was built all the way back in 1829!
Purgatory Post Haverhill-Bath Bridge stamp
On January 31, Purgatory Post issued an 11-sola stamp commemorating Bob Weir (1947–2026), a founding member of and longtime guitarist for American rock band Grateful Dead. Weir died January 10 due to lung problems following a battle with cancer.
Purgatory Post Bob Weir stamp
It’s good to see Purgatory Post releasing new material again. Hopefully we’ll see plenty more from this local post in 2026!
Hey, I’ll admit it: the majority of the mailpieces that arrive in my post office box are what we refer to as “junk mail.” Such items must outnumber “stamp mail” by at least 10 to 1.
Those pieces of “stamp mail” can bring some really interesting items, though, and a card I received last week contained a strip of cinderella stamps celebrating the Year of the Horse.
Year of the Horse cinderella stamps
This stamp is the work of Donovan Beeson, whose name you might recognize from the former Letter Writers Alliance. Donovan creates artistamps of all sorts, and was kind enough to share with me.
