President Ronald W. Reagan to be honored on U.S. Postage Stamp in 2005

Former President Ronald W. Reagan will receive a timeless honor when the United States Postal Service issues a postage stamp bearing his image in 2005.

In announcing the Reagan stamp, Postmaster General John E. Potter said, "The Postal Service will be proud to add a commemorative postage stamp to recognize the many honors that President Reagan, a man of diverse talents, accumulated throughout his life and beyond. The stamp will deliver a heart-warming message on letters and packages to Americans everywhere."

It is the tradition of the Postal Service to honor prominent Americans with a stamp no sooner than 10 years after their death. The single exception to this policy is for a United States President, who may be honored with a postage stamp on the first birth anniversary following death. Reagan was born on February 6, 1911.

The Postal Service is working with the Reagan family on the necessary arrangements for the stamp. Additional details about the design and the issuance ceremony will be announced when they are completed.

USPS.COM
June 29, 2004

American Toleware Stamp reissued in New Pane of 20

A first-day-of-issue ceremony for the reissued 5-cent American Toleware definitive postage stamp was held on June 25 at the American Stamp Dealers Association Summer Postage Stamp Show in Santa Clara, CA. The stamp was issued in a new pane of 20 format and was originally issued in 2002 as the first postage stamp in the American Design series.

The 5-cent definitive American Toleware stamp features artist Lou Nolan's painted detail of a black toleware coffeepot decorated with red flowers; purple forget-me-nots; and yellow, green and orange leaves, from the Winterthur Museum in Delaware. Curators at Winterthur believe that it was manufactured in Philadelphia between 1850 and 1875. Derry Noyes of Washington, DC, was the designer and art director for this stamp.

USPS.COM
June 27, 2004

U.S. Postal Service to Honor Mickey Mouse and Friends on Stamps

Disneyland, as the "Happiest Place on Earth," will become even more animated on Wednesday, June 23, when the U.S. Postal Service dedicates "The Art of Disney: Friendship", as a set of four commemorative postage stamps honoring friendship as it appears in the art of Walt Disney.

The stamps feature Mickey Mouse, Goofy, Donald Duck and a host of Disney friends.

Anaheim, as host city to the event, holds the unique distinction of being the only city in the nation where the stamps, postal cards and stationery will be available June 23. Mickey and his friends will be available at Post Offices and Philatelic Centers nationwide June 24.

"The Art of Disney: Friendship" self-adhesive 37-cent stamps, available in panes of twenty, feature world-famous Disney friends on four stamp designs.

USPS.COM
June 23, 2004

Historic preservation series honors Harriton House

Commemorating the 300th anniversary of Harriton House in Bryn Mawr, PA, a stamped postal card was issued on June 10 by the U.S. Postal Service. Prominent Revolutionary-era figure Charles Thomson lived in the house from 1774 to 1789. The house is an outstanding example of a colonial-era Pennsylvania home.

Harriton House is a three-story, T-shaped stone house with ornate features built in 1704 for Rowland Ellis, a Welsh Quaker. The house received its present name from Richard Harrison, a Maryland tobacco farmer who purchased the house and nearly 700 acres of surrounding farmland in 1719. The term "Harriton" was probably meant to imitate "Norriton," the name of nearby land owned by the family of Harrison's wife, Hannah Norris.

Charles Thomson married Harrison's daughter in 1774 and resided at Harriton House until 1789.

Restoration of Harriton House to its 18th-century appearance began in 1970, and today the house is open to the public and furnished to reflect the period of Thomson's occupancy.

The stamped card features a circa 1828 watercolor of Harriton House by William L. Breton, who is known for creating several watercolor views of the Philadelphia area during the 1820s and 1830s. The restored structure now includes reconstructed architectural features that were not present when Breton painted the watercolor, such as a small balcony and lower eaves across the front.

USPS.COM
June 19, 2004

Olivia Newton John seeks to stamp out breast cancer

Veteran singer Olivia Newton-John has requested Australian politicians to think of new ideas to fight the battle against breast cancer.

According to The Herald Sun, Olivia made the plea during the launch of Liv Kit, a self-examination aid aimed at making breast examination more convenient.

The "Don't Stop Believing" star wants the Australian Government to introduce a special breast-cancer research stamp. The proceeds of the breast cancer stamp that will retail a few cents higher than a regular stamp would be used for the breast cancer research.

A similar stamp already exists in America and has so far raised 57 million dollars for research on breast cancer.

However, the Newton-John plan has been rejected by Australia Post. ""

WEBINDIA123.COM
June 17, 2004

World War II stamp dedicated in Memorial Park

It takes just $37 to help honor those who served in the armed forces of the United States in World War II.

The U.S. Postal Service in Colorado Springs dedicated the national World War II Memorial stamp on Monday. It is a computer-generated image of the new World War II Memorial in Washington D.C.

A local World War II veteran calls this a great honor. M.G. Turley said, "It's an event we World War II veterans should appreciate and we thank them for honoring us, because the number is getting fewer."

The stamp will be available at local post offices in the next couple of weeks.

KOAA.COM
June 16, 2004

Italians propose Red Cross Stamp: campaign to mark 140th anniversary

Maurizio Gasparri, chairman of the Philatelic Council in Italy has proposed the issue of a special stamp to celebrate the 140th anniversary of the Italian Red Cross.

Gasparri sited the recent involvement of the Red Cross in Iraq as one of the main reasons to mark the anniversary.

"It’s work sends out a message which crosses all ideological, cultural and political barriers, in the name of peace, fraternity and solidarity. A special stamp of the Italian Red Cross would hence be a recognition of this popular humanitarian institution", said Gasparri.

GIBBONSSTAMPMONTHLY.COM
June 15, 2004

Committee still seeking stamp for missing children Washington

In a recent letter, the United States Postmaster General, John Potter, was urged to issue a stamp designed to raise public awareness about missing and exploited children.

The Postmaster General has been receiving such letters for seven years, but, so far, has not responded with action.

John L. Brezinski, a Herkimer County Legislator and Chairman of the Missing Children Stamp Committee, came up with the idea for a missing children stamp shortly after the disappearance of Sara Ann Wood in 1993.

There currently are 17 senators in support of the missing children stamp, including Senator Clinton. Thanks to the efforts of Congressman Sherwood Boehlert, there are 96 congressmen supporting the stamp.

Last fall, Senator Clinton, along with Senator Richard Shelby of Alabama, introduced a resolution that expressed support for Brezinski's idea for a Missing and Exploited Children's Postage Stamp. The resolution called on the Citizens' Stamp Commission of the United States Postal Service to recommend that the Postmaster General issue such a stamp.

TEAM AMBER ALERT NEWS
June 13, 2004

Indian Advocates Pushing For Diwali Stamp

Several practicing Hindus want the U.S. Postal Service to issue a stamp in honor of their festival of lights or Diwali.

Organizers have so far won the support of U.S. Congressman Joe Wilson (R-S.C.), who is urging all Hindus to begin a letter-writing campaign in support of the proposal.

Dr. Shailendra Kumar, president of the Committee for Diwali Postage Stamp, and Dr. Piyush Agrawal, past President of the Association of Indians in America (AIA), are submitting a new proposal to the U.S. Postal Service to formally request the issuance of a Diwali stamp.

A past proposal fell through because on a low number of petitions.

HARDBEATNEWS
June 11, 2004

Cyprus unveil Olympic stamps

A new collection of stamps is to be issued by Cyprus Post on 10th June to celebrate the forthcoming Athens Olympics.

Four new stamps will be released, designed by Glafkos Theofylactou and each measuring 27 x 80 mm.

The 28th Olympic Games themselves have been under close scrutiny recently with fears that many of the venues will not be completed in time for the start of the event on 13th August.

Local militant group "Revolutionary Struggle" are also adding to the disruption having set off a number of explosions in and around Athens during May. They are warning visitors to stay away in the summer though Greek government spokesman Theodoros Roussopoulos maintains "a plan has been drafted and implemented, that guarantees the security of the Olympic Games".

GIBBONSSTAMPMONTHLY.COM
June 10, 2004

Olympic stamp issued in Philadelphia ceremony

The U.S. Postal Service on Wednesday issued a commemorative stamp in honor of the summer Olympic Games with a ceremony in Philadelphia, where a museum artifact provided the inspiration for the postage stamp.

The 37-cent stamp features a Greek runner based on figures on a vase at the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, where the stamp was unveiled to mark its first day of issue.

The stamp was designed by Richard Scheaff of Scottsdale, Ariz., and created by artist Lonnie Busch of Franklin, N.C.

Thousands of athletes from around the world will participate in the summer games, scheduled for Aug. 13-29 in Athens.

TIMESLEADER.COM
June 09, 2004

D-Day stamp commemorates Canadians' sacrifice

Canada Post is about to release a new commemorative stamp to mark the 60th anniversary of the invasion of Normandy during World War II. The stamp, created as a tribute to the memory of all those who fought in the battle of Normandy, will be available starting Sunday, exactly 60 years after the historic invasion.

On June 6, 1944, more than 15,000 Canadian soldiers landed on Juno Beach as part of a bold operation that marked the beginning of the end of the war. Canadian troops constituted one-fifth of total Allied forces involved.

While D-Day marked the turning point, the war would officially last another 332 days.

In addition to the 15,000 troops landing by water, an additional 450 soldiers parachuted behind the beaches, while 10,000 sailors of the Royal Canadian Navy were standing by in 110 ships of all sizes.

By the end of the day, Canadian casualties numbered more than 1,000, with nearly 400 dead. At the end of the Normandy campaign, more than 5,000 Canadians had given their lives.

The commemorative stamp was designed by Derwyn Goodall, based on a painting, "D-Day, The Assault," by Orville Fisher. The painting shown on the stamp hangs in the Canadian War Museum in Ottawa.

THE STAR
June 05, 2004

Sweden Post unveil summer stamps

Sweden Post has revealed that the country’s most expansive archipelago, which consists of over 30,000 islands, is to be the subject of a new collection of stamps.

The work of local islander and renowned photographer Jeppe Wikstrom is the inspiration for the stamps. "I'm amazed by the ability to refine and enhance the clarity of the design in the compact postage stamp format without sacrificing detail," says Wikstrom. "I never cease to be fascinated by Stockholm's archipelago".

Only 100 of the islands are actually inhabited, with thriving agricultural communities existing on some whilst most consist of thick, wooded landscapes.

GIBBONSSTAMPMONTHLY.COM
June 02, 2004