Philosateleia
Kevin Blackston
PO Box 217
Floresville TX 78114-0217
United States of America

Philosateleian Blog

Purgatory Post commemorates Skylab 4 mission

New Hampshire-based Purgatory Post on November 16 issued a pair of stamps commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Skylab 4 mission.

The 4-sola stamps picture astronauts Gerald Carr, Ed Gibson, and Bill Pogue along with the launch of their spacecraft. The other stamp pictures the Skylab station along with the Skylab 4 mission patch.

Pair of 4-sola Purgatory Post stamps picturing Skylab 4 crew and launch vehicle, Skylab station, and Skylab 4 mission patch
Purgatory Post 4-sola Skylab 4 stamps

The Skylab 4 crew launched from Cape Canaveral on November 16, 1973, and did not return to Earth until February 4, 1974. According to Purgatory Post operator Scott A., the astronauts remained on Skylab for 84 days, setting an endurance record not broken until 1978 when a Russian crew recorded a 96 day mission.

Although additional Skylab missions were planned, Skylab 4 turned out to be the last. NASA turned its attention to development of the Space Shuttle program, and Skylab itself eventually burned up in Earth’s atmosphere in July 1979.

Winter 2023 update for The Philosateleian

If you use The Philosateleian U.S. Stamp Album but aren’t signed up to receive the Philosateleian Post Horn, I wanted to let you know the Winter 2023 Supplement (98 KB, 1 file, 2 pages) is now available for you to download and print.

This small update includes spaces for all United States stamps issued since early September.

If you use The Philosateleian’s annual update track rather than the quarterly track of which this update is a part, I plan to have my full set of pages for 2023 available in early January. Stay tuned!

Como Park Post issues new 3¢ stamp

First off, loyal reader, Happy Thanksgiving. It has been 20 years since I launched Philosateleia, and I never cease to be amazed at how many folks have taken an interest in my website. Thank you for your support.

Now, for today’s featured item, we have a new stamp from Como Park Post out of Saint Paul, Minnesota. The 3¢ design is printed in green on yellow paper, and was issued November 13.

Como Park Post 3¢ stamp
Como Park Post 3¢ stamp

As I’m mentioned before, Como Park Post operator Tom B. handcarves the wood blocks he uses to print his stamps. It’s an approach that hearkens back to some of the earliest postage stamps created in the 19th century, and one can’t help but be impressed!

Bat’s Private Post issues stamp picturing The Boy on the Seahorse

Bat’s Private Post out of Beverly Hills, California, recently issued a new official stamp. Although the first day of issue was September 8, a postcard bearing a copy of the stamp arrived in my post office box only within the past week.

This postcard was mailed from Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, and the stamp pictures a sculpture there: The Boy on the Seahorse by Rafael Zamarripa. The stamp is tied by several Bat’s Private Post postmarks and cancellations.

Bat’s Private Post The Boy on the Seahorse stamp
Bat’s Private Post The Boy on the Seahorse stamp

The new stamp is labeled “Inter-office Post,” indicating its intended use for official business, and it appears to be die cut with scalloped corners.

Blacksmith Shop Bridge appears on Purgatory Post stamp

New Hampshire-based Purgatory Post on October 19 issued the latest in its series of stamps picturing New Hampshire’s covered bridges, the first new release in the series in over a year. The 21-sola stamp pictures the Blacksmith Shop Bridge in Cornish.

Purgatory Post 21-sola stamp picturing Blacksmith Shop Bridge
Purgatory Post 21-sola Blacksmith Shop Bridge stamp

The 96-foot long Blacksmith Shop Bridge, also known as the Kenyon Bridge, was built in 1882 for the princely sum of $873. The bridge was closed in 1974 due to wear, but following restoration in the 1980s, it was reopened to foot traffic only.

According to information provided by Purgatory Post operator Scott A., the bridge got its name due to its close proximity to a shop operated by a blacksmith named John Fellows.

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