The Maya Angelou Forever Stamp

The United States Postal Service released on April 7, 2015 the Maya Angelou Forever® stamp in self-adhesive sheets of 12 and was designed by Art director Ethel Kessler.

Dr. Maya Angelou (1028-2014), an author, poet, actress, and champion of civil rights, was one of the most dynamic voices in all of 20th-century American literature. Her book, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, an autobiographical account of her childhood, gained wide acclaim for its vivid depiction of African-American life in the South.

The stamps showcases artist Ross Rossin's 2013 portrait of Dr. Angelou. The oil-on-canvas painting is part of the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery's collection. In the bottom left corner is the following phrase quoted by Dr. Angelou: "A bird doesn't sing because it has an answer, it sings because it has a song." Above the quotation is her name in black type. The words "Forever" and "USA" are along the right side. The bright red-colored sheet also includes a short excerpt from Dr. Angelou's book Letter to My Daughter. It reads: "Try to be a rainbow in someone's cloud."   

The Maya Angelou Forever stamp was officially dedicated with the presence of First Lady Michelle Obama, Oprah Winfrey, Melissa Harris-Perry, Sophia Nelson, Valerie Ashford-Simpson, Sonja Sanchez, Dr. Eleanor Traylor, Rossin Fin Art, Ethel Kessler and the Angelou-Johnson family.  Check the details at the USPS link at https://store.usps.com/store/browse/uspsProductDetailMultiSkuDropDown.jsp?productId=S_472604 

The R2-D2 Mailbox

 

I got this miniature version of the USPS R2-D2 Mailbox from Cebu Stamp Club member Dr. Vicente Avanzado Jr. as a birthday gift. The product is also called the R2-M8 Coin Bank.

In 2007, the United States Postal Service (USPS) installed 400 R2-D2 mailboxes in postal districts around the U.S. as part of the Star Wars 30th Anniversary celebrations. It also coincides with the issuance of the March 28, 2007 Star Wars stamp set.

The mailboxes have all long been replaced but the miniatures continue to remind people that long time ago, in a galaxy far away, the postal service came out with the Star Wars R2D2 mailboxes and stamps.

Thank you doc for this very unique gift!

Jump here to read my previous blog on the Star Wars stamps.

Inauguration Day Official Commemorative Souvenir Cover

The United States Postal Service (USPS) preserves a piece of history by issuing the Inauguration Day Official Commemorative Souvenir Cover beginning January 21, 2013. This 9 ½” x 4 ⅛” collectible envelope includes color portraits of President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden as well as a background illustration of the White House and typography printed in gold ink.

Available in limited quantity, this $9.95 souvenir cover also features a randomly-selected, Four Flags stamp cancelled with an official Inauguration Day color postmark, and includes a clear protective sleeve for preservation.

USPS Mark Twain Stamp is Now Out

World famous author and humorist Mark Twain was honored on a postage stamp on June 25, 2011 by the United States Postal Service (USPS).

This commemorative First-class Forever stamp is the 27th stamp in the Literary Arts series.

The First Day of Issue ceremony was held at the Mark Twain Boyhood Home & Museum in Hannibal, MO.

Postal Service Board of Governors member James H. Bilbray said that “Our literary tribute this year rightfully honors Mark Twain, author of one of the greatest novels in American literature and the man whom William Faulkner called ‘the first truly American writer’.. Mark Twain was a rarity, as he was one of the first writers to exploit the vernacular voice in his books, using the speech of common Americans.”

Mark Twain (1835—1910), is the author of great works such as The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is one of the greatest novels in American literature.

The postage stamp portrait features an old Mark Twain; the background showing a steamboat evokes a way of life along the Mississippi River that played a big role in many of Twain’s works, as well as in his own life. Art director and stamp designer Phil Jordan collaborated with stamp artist Gregory Manchess, who based his portrait of Twain on a photograph taken in the year 1907.

Celebrating American Scientists

The United States Postal Service (USPS) dedicates new Forever Stamps honoring four distinguished scientists.

The third in the American Scientists series, the distinguished scientists who dedicated their lives to understanding the fundamental process of nature and made extraordinary contributions to the advancement of science are: chemist Melvin Calvin; botanist Asa Gray; physicist Maria Goeppert Mayer; and biochemist Severo Ochoa.The stamps comes out today, June 16, 2011.

Reagan on Forever Stamps

In Simi Valley, California, the United States Postal Service (USPS) released on February 10, 2011 the Ronald Reagan (Forever®) commemorative stamp. Valued at 44-cents, the stamp was designed by Ethel Kessler of Bethesda, Maryland.

The issuance of the stamp marks the centennial of the birth of Ronald Reagan (1911-2004), who was America's 40th President. The stamp issuance is among a number of centennial events that will take place in the United States this year to commemorate Reagan's life and legacy.

The stamp art by Bart Forbes, Plano, Texas, was created in oil wash on board and was based on a photograph of Reagan taken in 1985 during his presidency, at "Rancho del Cielo" (Ranch in the Sky), near Santa Barbara, California.

USPS Releases Flags of our Nation Set 4 Stamps

The United States Post Office (USPS) releases today the Flags of our Nation Set 4 stamps.

These l44-cent First-Class Mail stamps consist of 10 designs of highly detailed flag portraits done by artist Tom Engeman of Bethany Beach, DE, working under the direction of stamp designer Howard E. Paine of Delaplane, VA.

The stamps feature the Stars and Stripes stamp that depicts the “purple mountain majesties” inspired by the opening lines of “America the Beautiful” by Katharine Lee Bates (1859-1929), plus the state flags of Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Ne Mexico, New York, North Carolina and North Dakota.

Ellen DeGeneres Promotes Stamps on Pets

I love dogs and cats! This is the reason why I have a pet dog and a cat while at the same time collect stamps featuring these animals.

It is interesting to note that the United States Postal Service is coming out with a new issue on pets to further the cause on animal adoption.

The USPS and famous tv comedian and talk show host Ellen DeGeneres have joined forces to promote the "Animal Rescue: Adopt A Shelter Pet" stamps.

Ellen is an outspoken advocate concerning pet adoption and a co-owner of Halo, Purely For Pets, a company that sells pet food. Halo is set to donate 1 million meals to animal shelters in the United States.

The stamps unveiled on March 17 will go on sale to the public on April 30, 2010.

Check out http://www.stampstotherescue.com to know more about the campaign.

Abstract Expressionists

In celebration of the abstract expressionist artists of the 20th century, the United States Postal Service (USPS) issued on March 11, 2010 a 44–cent, Abstract Expressionists commemorative stamp in ten designs, designed by Ethel Kessler of Bethesda, Maryland.

Art Director Ethel Kessler and noted Art Historian Jonathan Fineberg (Gutgsell Professor Art History, University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign) selected ten paintings to be included on this pane of self–adhesive stamps. Kessler used elements from Barnett Newman’s Achilles (1952) to frame the stamps.

The stamps were arranged in a manner to suggest paintings hanging on a gallery wall. For design purposes, the sizes of the stamp are not in relative proportion to the paintings. The pane also features selvage text and a quotation by Robert Motherwell. Each of the stamps include the name of the artist and verso text that identifies the painting and briefly tells something about the artist.

The list of stamp artworks are:

• The Golden Wall (1961) — Hans Hofmann (1880–1966)
• Romanesque Façade (1949) — Adolph Gottlieb (1903–1974)
• Orange and Yellow (1956) — Mark Rothko (1903–1970)
• The Liver Is the Cock’s Comb (1944) — Arshile Gorky (1904–1948)
• 1948–C (1948) — Clyfford Still (1904–1980)
• Asheville (1948) — Willem de Kooning (1904–1997)
• Achilles (1952) — Barnett Newman (1905–1970)
• Convergence (1952) — Jackson Pollock (1912–1956)
• Elegy to the Spanish Republic No. 34 (1953–1954) — Robert Motherwell (1915–1991)
• La Grande Vallée 0 (1983) — Joan Mitchell (1925–1992)

The United States' Distinguished Sailors Stamps

The United States Postal Service (USPS) issues today a commemorative stamp bearing four designs featuring four sailors who served with bravery and distinction during the 20th century.

The stamps of William S. Sims, Arleigh A. Burke, John McCloy and Doris Miller were designed by Phil Jordan of Falls Church, Virginia.

Letters to Santa a hit!

The United States Postal Service (USPS) came out with a limited edition cd that features 13 holiday favorite songs by contemporary and classic stars.

The Letters to Santa cd includes the hits:

"Let it Snow" – Michael Buble

"The Christmas Song" – Nat King Cole

"Sleigh Ride" – Diana Krall

"White Christmas" – Rosemary Clooney

"The Christmas Waltz" – Frank Sinatra

"Santa Claus is Coming to Town" – Ray Charles

"Christmastime is here" – Vince Guaraldi's classic from A Charlie Brown Christmas

USPS says that the cd is now the best selling holiday collection of all time with 70,000 copies sold. It is also at number 15 in Billboard's holiday chart.