Arthur Ashe Commemorative Stamp unveiled at U.S. OPEN

Arthur Ashe, humanitarian and world class tennis star, will be immortalized on a commemorative postage stamp to be issued by the U.S. Postal Service in 2005.

The announcement came during the unveiling of the stamp image as part of the Arthur Ashe Kids' Day presented by Hess, which kicks off the 2004 U.S. Open. The ceremonies took place in the Stadium bearing the tennis legend's name. Ashe's image, a photo by Michael O'Neill used on the cover of Sports Illustrated magazine naming Ashe 1992 Sportsman of the Year, is the first Sports Illustrated cover photo ever featured on a postage stamp.

As the first African-American man to win Grand Slam tennis tournaments - Wimbledon, and the United States and Australian Opens - Ashe followed his on-court accomplishments with a lifetime of activity devoted to humanitarian endeavors.

USPS.COM
August 30, 2004

Saturday Night's Alright for Philately: Elton John Tercentenary Concert marked

Gibraltar will mark one of the highlights of their Tercentenary celebrations by releasing a one stamp miniature sheet featuring Elton John, who will be performing at the Victoria Stadium on 10th September.

The Gibraltar Philatelic Bureau has decided to issue a CD shaped sheet featuring Elton John’s signature and a picture of the star, with the Union Jack flag appearing on the stamp. A First Day Cover and Presentation Pack will also be made available.

GIBBONSSTAMPMONTHLY.COM
August 26, 2004

Native American art showcased on new U.S. Postage stamps and Postal cards

Ten pieces of Native American art were highlighted by the U.S. Postal Service at a first-day-of-issue ceremony held today in Santa Fe, NM. Ten 37-cent commemorative postage stamps and a booklet of twenty 23-cent stamped postal cards were issued at 11 a.m. (Mountain Time) on the Plaza Stage during the annual Santa Fe Indian Market, sponsored by the Southwestern Association for Indian Arts.

The pane of 10 jumbo, self-adhesive stamps feature photographs of American Indian artifacts dating from around the 11th century A.D. to circa 1969. John Stevens, a calligrapher in Winston-Salem, NC, designed and created the lettering in the title. Descriptive text on the back of the stamps includes an overview and specific information about each of the objects.

The following artifacts are depicted on the Art of the American Indian stamps: a Mimbres bowl, a Kutenai parfleche, two Tlingit sculptures, a detail from a Ho-Chunk (Winnebago) bag, a Miccosukee-Seminole doll, a Mississippian effigy, an Acoma pot made by Lucy Martin Lewis, a Navajo weaving by Daisy Taugelchee, a detail of a Seneca ladle, and a Luiseno basket.

USPS.COM
August 22, 2004

Former Chinese leader commemorated

A new issue celebrating the 100th anniversary of the birth of the late Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping is to be released by Hong Kong Post on 22nd August.

Two new stamps, each with a face value of HK$1.40 will be released featuring Deng against the backdrop of Hong Kong in both day and night. A HK$10 sheetlet meanwhile shows how Hong Kong has evolved over the past 100 years.

The First Day Cover consists of a photograph of Deng Xiaoping inspecting a hospital and is accompanied by one of his most famous quotes: "I am the son of the Chinese people and I deeply love my people and my country".

GIBBONSSTAMPMONTHLY.COM
August 21, 2004

Manmohan Singh to release stamp on Rajiv Gandhi

Prime Minister of India Manmohan Singh will release a postage stamp to commemorate the 60th birth anniversary of late prime minister Rajiv Gandhi.

The stamp, which will be in the denomination of Rs.5, is being issued by the department of posts in association with the ministry of non-conventional energy sources.

Sonia Gandhi, chairperson of National Advisory Council, Dayanidhi Maran, minister of communications and IT, and Vilas Muttemwar, minister of non-conventional energy sources will attend the stamp release function.

123BHARATH.COM
August 20, 2004

Sweden unveil new bird issue

Sweden Post are to release a new issue entitled Doves and Pigeons on 19th August.

Three stamps will make up the issue, each featuring a different species of bird. The Swedish Tumbler, Collared Dove and the Woodpigeon will all appear on the stamps which have been designed by Dan Zetterstrom and Jean-Louis Frindel.

The Swedish Tumbler derives its name from its ability to perform multiple backward somersaults and is the oldest of the tame doves. The Collared Dove is recognizable by whitish splotches on the throat and white half-moon markings on the top side of its wings and is Sweden's largest dove. The Woodpigeon is a familiar feature of urban landscapes in Sweden's southern and middle regions and began roosting in Sweden in the 1950s.

GIBBONSSTAMPMONTHLY.COM
August 19, 2004

Postal Service revs up for sporty car stamps

Postage stamps featuring images of five classic cars from the 1950s were unveiled today by the U.S. Postal Service at the world's premier event for classic car enthusiasts in Pebble Beach, CA.

The Sporty Cars of the 50s commemorative postage stamps will be issued in 2005.

Featured on the stamps are a 1952 Nash Healey, a 1953 Chevrolet Corvette, a 1953 Studebaker Starliner, a 1954 Kaiser Darrin, and a 1955 Ford Thunderbird.

The new stamps highlight the sporty look of American cars designed in the 1950s with sleek, aerodynamic lines and the innovative looks of the types of European sports cars American GIs favored upon their return from World War II.

USPS.COM
August 17, 2004

Giant Magnolias on a Blue Velvet Cloth blooms as new U.S. postage stamp

Considered one of the finest 19th-century painters of landscapes and still lifes, Martin Johnson Heade was honored today when the U.S. Postal Service issued its fourth stamp in the American Treasures commemorative stamp series.

The new stamp is based on Heade's circa 1890 painting, "Giant Magnolias on a Blue Velvet Cloth," in the collection of the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC.

The dedication ceremony was held during the American Philatelic Society's StampShow 2004 in Sacramento, CA.

USPS.COM
August 14, 2004

Website lets you put your own pictures on postage stamps

Your picture or even your dog can now be on an official stamp.

A new service called Photostamps on www.Stamps.com allows users to create stamps with their own photos.

Company president Ken McBride says you can use a picture of just about anything or anyone -- within reason.

He says they'll reject offensive photos or graphics.

He says they're seeing a lot of baby and vacation pictures.

McBride anticipates the service will be popular for holiday cards and invitations.

A sheet of first class photo stamps costs about 17 dollars -- or about twice the usual 37-cent stamp.

ABCLOCAL.GO.COM
August 13, 2004

Postage stamp to honor movie hero John Wayne

He crossed "Rio Bravo" and "Red River." He fought at "Fort Apache" and on "The Sands of Iwo Jima." He was "The Quiet Man" and won an Oscar as Rooster Cogburn in "True Grit," but everyone knew him as the Duke.

Next month, movie hero John Wayne will get his own postage stamp.

On Sept. 9, the U.S. Postal Service will release the 37-cent stamp, the latest in the Legends of Hollywood series. The first day of issue ceremony will be at Grauman's Chinese Theater in Los Angeles, and the stamps will go on sale nationwide the next day.

During his career Wayne played many Western and war hero characters who celebrated independence, courage and patriotism. He died in 1979.

The stamp, painted by Drew Struzan, is based on a black-and-white publicity still taken during the filming of "The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance" in 1962.

SFGATE.COM
August 12, 2004

Hungary mark Folkloriada: New stamps to celebrate festival

Hungary Post release a new sheet of stamps on 12th August to mark the third Folkloriada Festival. Also known as the "Olympics of Folk Art", the festival has previously been held in Holland and Japan, with Canada hosting the next one in 2008.

The festival will take place between 12th and 22nd August, with attractions including folk dance, folk music, traditional crafts, customs, folk wear, rituals and games.

The stamps will have a face value of HUF 65 and measure 50 x 21.67 mm.

GIBBONSSTAMPMONTHLY.COM
August 10, 2004

France unveils new Marianne postage stamp

France unveiled the country's new standard postage stamp, which bears a stylized version of "Marianne" - the symbol of the republic - in the form of a red flower.

Following a nationwide contest, President Jacques Chirac chose 49-year-old Thierry Lamouche's design - with Marianne's face turned toward the sky - from among 10 final entries.

The speaker of the lower house of parliament, Jean-Louis Debre, unveiled the winning drawing on the steps of the National Assembly.

The stamp will go into circulation from January 1, 2005.

Marianne has been the anonymous female image of France since the revolution, when a replacement was needed for the toppled crown. She has been at different times bare-breasted warrior and virtuous mother-figure.

Since the 1960s, a succession of celebrities including Brigitte Bardot and Catherine Deneuve have supplied the features for France's heroine.

EXPATICA.COM
August 07, 2004

Finland to issue Moomin stamp: Double anniversary celebrated

Finland are to issue a new stamp on 9th August celebrating the 90th anniversary of artist-cum-author Tove Jansson (1914 - 2001). Among her creations were the Moomins, a popular comic strip and later cult cartoon series.

Jansson developed the Moomins 50 years ago and the stamp features two of the strip’s main characters, Snufkin and the Moomin Troll.

Artist Paivi Vainionpaa has designed the first class stamp whilst French printing house Cartor Security Printing are responsible for it’s production. Due to the unusual material it has been printed on and the way the Moomin Troll has been embossed, the stamp has an almost 3-D feel to it.

An exhibition will take place between 16-27 September at the Helsinki Main Post in conjunction with the Comics Festival in Helsinki in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the strip’s first appearance.

GIBBONSSTAMPMONTHLY.COM
August 04, 2004

Designer Ralph Lauren graces Jamaican Postage Stamp

The face of the renowned fashion mogul Ralph Lauren has been immortalized on Jamaican postage stamp.

The designer, who is the shareholder of the exclusive Round Hill resort in Montague Bay, has been honored for his contribution to the development of the island’s travel industry.

The stamp can be bought in Jamaica as well as in other locations across the world for $6 per piece.

FASHIONGATES.COM
August 02, 2004

Schwarzenegger postage stamp goes on sale

A new postage stamp featuring a likeness of California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger went on sale Friday - his 57th birthday - in his native Austria and the postal service said it was bracing for heavy demand for the 600,000 stamps.

E-mail requests for the euro1 (US$1.20) stamp have flooded the nation's postal headquarters in Vienna, spokesman Johannes Angerer said. Austrians showed up early Friday to buy the stamps, but there were no long lines.

The stamp features an image of Schwarzenegger in a dark suit and tie superimposed over the American and Austrian flags. The text reads simply: "Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger."

The actor-turned-politician best known for the "Terminator" series of action films was born on July 30, 1947, in the village of Thal just outside the southern Austrian city of Graz, and he collected stamps himself as a boy, the postal service noted proudly.

The Schwarzenegger stamp is part of a collectors' series called "Austrians Living Abroad."

SEATTLEPI.COM
August 01, 2004