It’s not often that I receive an unexpected cover in the mail, so imagine my surprise and delight when this first day cover bearing a copy of the new art deco bird nonprofit stamp showed up in my mailbox.
Art Deco Bird First Day Cover
The American Philatelic Society, of which I’m a member, sent this to me from the AmeriStamp Expo held in Charleston, South Carolina, earlier this month.
The cover contains a solicitation for donations, but I still think it’s a nice gesture considering I’ve been a member for years.
As for the stamp itself, I have mixed feelings. The existing seacoast stamp used by nonprofits was issued in 2002, so it’s probably about time to replace that design.
Seacoast
On the other hand, the new design just kind of makes me go, “eh.” What do you think? Is the new stamp better or worse looking than the existing stamp for nonprofits?
In recent days, I’ve been musing over this question: why am I a stamp collector? There’s no single reason, but rather multiple reasons that I enjoy the hobby, and I intend to share them in a series of posts here.
Reason 1: stamp collecting stimulates the senses
We live in an age in which great value is assigned to entertainment and technology. We spend our time watching the television and surfing the Web; we communicate using 1s and 0s via e-mail and Facebook. Verily, I myself spend time working on this website, and at the end of the day it is nothing but a collection of bits and bytes. If the electricity is turned off, the things on which we spend our time suddenly cease to function.
Stamps, on the other hand, are tangible and stimulate the senses in a way that websites and the mass media cannot. I can touch the textured surface of a Thai stamp picturing Pa Hin Ngam National Park; I can run my finger across the surface of an envelope mailed when Abraham Lincoln was president of the United States. I can gaze at a beautiful modern landscape design or be absolutely amazed at the intricate engraving required to produce some of the true classics of philately. And when I open a box of old covers, I can smell the musty years.
In addition to that, I frankly just enjoy preparing a letter to go in the mail. Folding the paper, sealing the envelope, affixing a stamp—plus one of my own local post stamps—all feel real in a way that clicking “send” on an e-mail does not. Hinging a stamp into my album feels real in a way that uploading a digital photo to a website does not. I enjoy the experience.
I do not claim that stamp collecting tops other things in life—one’s faith, a loving marriage, strong relationships with family members, experiencing God’s creation. Even such a stamp nut as I can’t argue that. But there is a certain sense-based enjoyment that I derive from the hobby, and that, my friends, is one of the reasons I am a stamp collector.
Here we are nearly at the end of January; how time flies. I’ve been busy preparing first day covers for Philosateleian Post’s new Airmail Centennial stamp, which will be issued on Monday.
I recently received a generous donation from Suzanne M., a user of The Philosateleian U.S. Stamp Album. Suzanne is a repeat donor, and all I can say is thank you, thank you, thank you. It’s the support of people like you that make it possible for me to keep Philosateleia online. Again, thank you.
Congratulations to Loretta W., winner of the Philosateleian Post Horn’s first ever stamp giveaway! A set of 2010 holiday stamps is going to Loretta just for being a subscriber.
More giveaways are coming in the future. Sign up to receive the Post Horn, and you could be the next winner!
As 2010 draws to a close, the USPS is showing off its planned commemorative stamp designs for 2011. As previously announced, all of the new designs will be “forever” stamps.
Among the subjects being honored are actor Gregory Peck, astronaut Alan Shepard, and author Mark Twain (Samuel Clemens). President Ronald Reagan gets another commemorative stamp on what would have been his 100th birthday, while the centennial of the Indianapolis 500 is also recognized.
The long-running Purple Heart and “Celebrate!” designs are being refreshed, and the next of the Flags of Our Nation coils is scheduled to go on sale, too.
Overall, I’m not a huge fan of the art styles used for many of 2011’s commemorative stamps, but there are a few highlights. My personal favorites are Owney, the postal dog; the Civil War souvenir sheet; and the Toy Story stamp from the Pixar series. The Pixar series appalls the “traditionalist” part of me that looks fondly on stamps honoring national leaders, historical figures, and so forth, but how can you not love a stamp that features the Little Green Men?!
My predictions for stamps that will be all but impossible to find used: Latin musicians, American industrial design, and the Civil War commemoratives. I could be wrong on these, but my experience in recent years has been that it is very, very difficult to get a full used set of stamps from souvenir sheets and larger sets. Putting together a collection of these items used on commercial covers could be even more challenging.
What do you think of next year’s commemorative stamps? Take a look at the designs, then share your impressions in the comments section below.
