Philosateleian Blog
Gotta love cows
The $1 Western Cattle in Storm (1898) is often noted as one of the most beautiful stamps the U.S. has ever issued. I don’t own one of the originals, but my collection does include one of the bicolored reprints of 1998.
Anyway, it’s interesting to read about the design’s background and how it became a sought-after stamp. And you can do just that thanks to Chicago Stamps’s article, America’s Most Beautiful Stamp?
What do you think? Is this stamp the most beautiful issued? Or is there another design that’s #1 in your book?
Another thank you
The summer heat is still bearing down on those of us in the northern hemisphere, but special thanks go out to Frank H. for a cool move. He just made a donation to help support Philosateleia. Thank you, Frank!
You can be like Frank, too. Here are some ways you can help.
Album page update
If you get many new U.S. stamps on your mail, you may have noticed The Philosateleian doesn’t have spaces for the most recent issues. Don’t fear, though; updated pages will be available for you to download this fall, just in time for cooler temperatures that might have you spending a bit more time indoors.
Grab some 2-cent stamps
You may need a few 2¢ stamps early next year if the U.S. Postal Service gets its way.
USPS officials are asking the Postal Regulatory Commission to approve a rate hike that would go into effect on January 2, 2011. If the increase is approved, first-class letter rates will increase to 46 cents, with each additional ounce costing 18 cents. You’ll have to spend 30 cents to mail a postcard.
Prices to other countries could climb by 5–8 cents for the first ounce, depending on the destination.
The increases could cut the USPS’s massive deficit by $2.3 billion in the upcoming fiscal year.
Postage rate increases are technically limited to no more than the rate of inflation, but the PRC has the authority to approve higher increases like the ones requested as long as the USPS can demonstrate extraordinary need.
What do you as a stamp collector think of the proposed rate changes? Is the increase significant enough to even be on your radar?
Summertime slow for stamps
Summer is in full swing at least in this part of the world, and you may very well be spending more time outdoors than you are with your collection.
That’s how things look from here, at least, as Philosateleia has seen a drop in traffic over the past couple of months. I suspect that’s due to many of our usual visitors taking advantage of the opportunity to spend time outside with family and friends, and I can’t blame them. I’ve been enjoying it myself!
Is your stamp collection getting less attention than usual over the summer months? If so, where are you focusing your efforts when you do sit down with the stamps for a few minutes?
Summer 2010 update for The Philosateleian
After something of a sabbatical, I’m back with new stamp album pages for you to download! The Summer 2010 Supplement (496 KB, 11 files, 28 pages) for The Philosateleian U.S. Stamp Album is now available.
This update includes spaces for the latest regular postage issues, plus new pages for the U.S. Postal Agency in China overprinted issues of 1919 and 1922, which are included in The Philosateleian for the first time.
If you like The Philosateleian, don’t forget that there are several ways you can support the project. Happy collecting!