'To Form A More Perfect Union' stamps honor Civil Rights Movement

Say the words, "the Civil Rights Movement," and many iconic images come quickly and readily to mind. Thurgood Marshall arguing before the United States Supreme Court. Martin Luther King's dream shining off the Reflecting Pool in the capital of a deeply divided nation. Rosa Parks refusing to move to the back of the bus. The Little Rock Nine. The courage of the Freedom Riders.

The United States Postal Service today dedicated 10 stamps commemorating the 40th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act and honored the Civil Rights Movement's most enduring milestones and the people who made them possible.

"The Postal Service is proud to add the "To Form A More Perfect Union" commemorative stamps to our 2005 stamp program, a program that celebrates the people, events and history of our nation," said John E. Potter, Postmaster General and Chief Executive Officer. "These stamps trace the history of our nation's Civil Rights Movement through vivid illustrations of key events, people and decisions that changed the course of this nation."

USPS.COM
August 31, 2005

Arthur Ashe stamp dedicated at US Open

Humanitarian and world-class tennis player Arthur Ashe was immortalized on a postage stamp today when the U.S. Postal Service conducted a first-day-of-issue stamp dedication ceremony under the shadows of the stadium bearing his name. The ceremony took place as part of Arthur Ashe Kids' Day activities kicking off the 2005 US Open. The stamp will be available nationwide at Post Offices and Philatelic Centers, Aug. 28.

The stamp image is a photo by Michael O'Neill that Sports Illustrated used on the cover when it named Ashe "1992 Sportsman of the Year." It is the first Sports Illustrated cover photo to be featured on a postage stamp.

USPS.COM
August 27, 2005

Hong Kong to issue special stamps to celebrate opening of Disneyland

A set of special stamps would be issued to mark the grand opening of Hong Kong Disneyland on September 12, 2005, Hong Kong Postmaster General Allan Chiang announced.

Hong Kong Post will issue a set of four commemorative stamps, a souvenir sheet, a stamp sheet let and a gold-foiled stamp sheet let on September 12.

A Souvenir Pack will also be available, containing a set of the "Hong Kong Disneyland" stamps issued in 2003 to commemorate the groundbreaking, together with a set of the new "Hong Kong Disneyland Grand Opening" stamps and a gold-foiled stamp sheet let, Chiang said.

The set of special stamps consists of views of four themed lands familiar to Disney lovers worldwide. The stamps feature Disney's version of Main Street, USA, the wonders of Fantasyland, an enticing view of Adventure land and the world's favorite mouse, Mickey of course.

TRAVELDAILYNEWS.COM
August 25, 2005

America on the Move: 50s sporty cars postage stamps roll out of Detroit

Millions of classic cars from the 1950s rolled out of the Motor City today, guaranteed to cross the country for just 37-cents.

Available in five makes and models, the "America on the Move: 50s Sporty Cars" commemorative stamps hit the road following a first-day-of-issue dedication ceremony in Detroit today. These collectables — a '53 Chevrolet Corvette, '54 Kaiser Darrin, '52 Nash-Healey,'53 Studebaker Starliner, and a '55 Ford Thunderbird — are also available as stamped postal cards.

USPS.COM
August 21, 2005

Postal Service promotes child health with new stamp

The U.S. Postal Service continues its tradition of drawing attention to important social awareness issues with this stamp promoting children's health.

Art director Carl T. Herrman and stamp artist Craig Frazier show a silhouette of a physician placing a stethoscope on a child's chest. The selvage text is as follows: "Balanced Diet and Exercise, Regular Medical Checkups, Car Seats Each Time and Caring for Our Future."

The 37-cent Child Health postage stamp will be available nationwide September 7.

USPS.COM
August 20, 2005

Stamp honour for Shoah Hero

An American diplomat who saved the lives of thousands of Jewish and non-Jewish refugees from Nazi Germany is set to be honoured with his own postage stamp.

Working with the Holocaust rescuer Verian Fry, Hiram Bingham helped deliver some 2,500 artists, writers and musicians from harm while stationed as US Vice-Consul in Vichy France.

Bingham's rescue work was done against the orders of his own government and in 1941 the Roosevelt administration put it to an end by transferring him out of France.

But that has not stopped the United States Postal Service from commemorating his achievements by including him in a collection of stamps honouring diplomats of distinction, due to be released next year.

TOTALLYJEWISH.COM
August 18, 2005

Birthday party for the jazz giant

Canada Post today unveiled the country's newest postage stamp commemorating the life and achievements of composer and musician Oscar Peterson. The date coincides with Dr. Peterson's 80th birthday. Internationally renowned, Canadian jazz pianist Oscar Peterson has entertained the world with his mastery and prowess for more than 50 years.

The stamp is a collage of two photographs that showcase the talent and capture the essence of Canada's musical treasure, including Peterson's trademark smile. The primary image is a portrait of a relaxed Peterson leaning against an open piano. The second image is a close-up of his hands on the keyboard.

The treatment was executed in duotone rather than four colors. The portrait is in sepia while the keyboard image has a bluer, cooler hue.

CANADAPOST.CA
August 15, 2005

Canada Post honors a people's constancy

Canada Post issued a new 50-cent stamp on August 15 to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the deportation of settlers from native Acadia to the British colonies of North America.

This event, known to Acadians as Le Grand Durangement, was the culmination of centuries-old hostilities between France and England.

The stamp actually incorporates another stamp within its design, the 1930 "Grand-Pre" stamp featuring the famous statue of Evangeline and the Acadian chapel at Grand-Pre National Historic Site. This stamp was issued 75 years ago to mark the 175th anniversary of the Acadian deportation.

CANADAPOST.CA
August 13, 2005

Rio Grande blankets among Treasures

Four "New Mexico Rio Grande Blankets" have joined the U.S. Postal Service's "American Treasures" series.

The self-adhesive 37-cent commemoratives -- sold in double-sided booklets of 20 -- were dedicated July 30 in Santa Fe, N.M., during the 54th Annual Traditional Spanish Market, the country's oldest and largest show and sale of Spanish colonial art.

The USPS has printed 420 million "Rio Grande Blankets" stamps (in 21 million booklets).

The "American Treasures" series -- which began in 2001 with the "Amish Quilts" pane -- "showcases beautiful works of American fine arts and crafts," the USPS said.

For 2005, stamp art director Derry Noyes chose four 19th-century New Mexico Rio Grande blankets from various museum collections.

SUN-SENTINEL.COM
August 10, 2005

New Malaysian issue

Malaysia Post release a new set of stamps on 9th August celebrating the advance of traditional water transport in the country.

The issue consists of three designs, the Perahu Kotak (Box Boat), the Sampan and Rakit Buluh (Bamboo Raft). A miniature sheet featuring the Perahu Batang (Long Boat) will also be released in addition to a first day cover and souvenir pack.

The new stamps are being used to highlight not only the evolution of water transport but also celebrate Malaysian innovation.

GIBBONSSTAMPMONTHLY.COM
August 09, 2005

Stamp of approval for Aussie wine

Australia's postal service has released a set of stamps celebrating wine production in the country. Wine has been Australia's fastest-growing export over the past ten years.

The five stamps from Australia Post illustrate the various stages of wine production, while maintaining a necessarily romantic view of life in the vineyard and winery. The stamps show images of vines, ripe grape bunches, grape picking, wine maturing in barrels, and finally two full glasses: one of red, the other of white.

WINEINT.COM
August 08, 2005

Seeing the wood for the trees

Australia Post release a new set of stamps on 8th August to coincide with the 22nd World Congress of the International Union of Forest Research Organizations being held from 8 to 13 August 2005 at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre.

The issue consists of five stamps, which represent the diversity of Australia's native trees:

- Snow Gum (Eucalyptus pauciflora)
- Wollemi Pine (Wollemia nobilis)
- Boab (Adansonia gregorii)
- Karri (Eucalyptus diversicolor)
- Moreton Bay Fig (Ficus macrophylla).

GIBBONSSTAMPMONTHLY.COM
August 07, 2005

Clinton lauds presidential libraries stamp

Former President Clinton said a new U.S. postage stamp celebrating 50 years of presidential libraries will draw attention to institutions that are cornerstones of an open society.

"These libraries are priceless repositories of American history," Clinton said. "We're always thinking of today and tomorrow. But we can understand better what to do if we understand our yesterdays."

The blue-and-white 37-cent stamp features the presidential seal. The same design was unveiled at each of the 11 presidential libraries in the National Archives and Records Administration System and at the private Richard Nixon Library in Yorba Linda, Calif.

Clinton was the only former president to attend one of the ceremonies. Allen Weinstein, the new national archivist, also traveled to the event at the Clinton Library, which opened in November.

SEATTLEPI.NWSOURCE.COM
August 05, 2005

London 2012 Olympic Stamps

A new miniature is to be issued this week by Royal Mail celebrating London's successful bid to host the 2012 Olympic Games. The design is a reproduction of the stamps used to mark the 1996 Olympic Games.

The stamps go on sale on Friday to coincide with the start of the World Athletics Championships in Helsinki. London 2012 chairman and former Olympic winner Sebastian Coe said: "These special London 2012 stamps will keep this wonderful achievement at the forefront of people's minds over the next few months."

GIBBONSSTAMPMONTHLY.COM
August 01, 2005