_____________________________________________________

I'M Back

Hello stamp collectors or anyone who enjoys viewing and analyzing miniature works of art. I have not updated this site during the past few years, but I am back, sharing my hobby with you. Bear with me as I update and clean up this site.
Demarre McGill, Retired Deputy Fire Commissioner, Chicago Fire Department






CITIZEN’S STAMP ADVISORY COMMITTEE

Many of the subjects chosen to appear on U.S. stamps and postal stationery are suggested by the public. Each year, the Postal Service receives from the American public thousands of letters proposing stamp subjects. Every stamp suggestion meeting criteria is considered, regardless of who makes it or how it is presented.

The Committee's primary goal is to select subjects of broad national interest for recommendation to the Postmaster General that are both interesting and educational. In addition to Postal Service's extensive line of mail use stamps, approximately 20 new subjects for commemorative stamps are recommended each year. Stamp selections are made with all postal customers in mind, not just stamp collectors. A good mix of subjects, both interesting and educational, is essential.

The above information is from the USPS’s Citizen’s Stamp Advisory Committee website. Who do you want to see on a U. S. postage stamp?


Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Since 1940, the United States Postal Service has issued over 200 postage stamps depicting African Americans or significant historical events related to our history in this country. These beautiful stamps are miniature works of art which should be treasured by all. The second stamp in this collection was also issued in 1940.  This three-cent stamp celebrates the seventy fifth anniversary of the Thirteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.  During the next eight years, the Postal Service did not issue any stamps depicting African Americans.  On July 5, 1948, a magenta colored three-cent stamp of the great agricultural scientist George Washington Carver was issued.  This was the first stamp issued in 1948.                                                                              
After another eight year period, when no African American related stamps were issued, the Booker T. Washington Centennial stamp was released.  This stamp portrayed Booker T. Washington’s home.  On December 15, 1956, a stamp honoring children was issued.  One African American child was among the eleven children pictured on the stamp.
In1963, the Emancipation Proclamation stamp was issued. These early stamps depicted very powerful messages and represented some of the great African American leaders and artist during a very turbulent period in the United States.


In 1967 Frederick Douglass was honored on a U.S. postage stamp.  During the 1970s several African Americans were honored, including the great painter Henry O. Tanner, Paul Lawrence Dunbar, Harriet Tubman, the Revolutionary War hero Salem Poor and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.  During the 1980s, the U.S. Postal Service substantially increased the production of stamps depicting African Americans.  During this period, fifteen African American related stamps were issued.  This compares to only three during the 1940s, two during the 1950s, five during the 1960s and only six during the 1970s.

Postage stamps are miniature works of art. African American Stamp collections are fantastic collector’s items. I hope you are enjoying my educational blog.
Demarre McGill 
blackstampsandcoins@gmail.com
773.919.6536    

Posted by at