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Guide for Postal Stamp Art
|
|
What is a
Stamp? |
| The first two US postage stamps were issued in 1847. They were a
5-cents Benjamin Franklin and a ten-cents George Washington. Presidents,
American geography and American historical events dominated our stamps
for a long time. Now, we can put a Jedi Warrior, a Yellow Submarine, and
Snowman on our letters! |
|
What is a
Stamp Series? |
| Most stamps are produced individually. Those produced in a series
have a common purpose or theme. They can be issued at the same time or
over an extended period of time. In past years most series consisted of
four stamps. Today, it is not uncommon to see a series of five (Our
example shows a set of five British Offshore Lighthouses issued in 998
to commemorate the 300th anniversary of the Eddystone Light and the end
of manned lighthouses in Great Britain), twenty (the Civil War series
issued in 1995), and fifty (The Wonders of America Series issued in
2006, featuring all 50 States.) |
|
What is a
First Day Cover? |
A traditional First Day Cover is an envelope that has been sent
through the mail (cover) with the new stamp cancelled from the City of
Issue on the First Day of Issue. The cancellation mark will have the
words, "First Day of Issue. The artwork on the envelope is called a
cachet. The USPS is not allowed to put artwork on their envelopes. In
the United States, that right is reserved for private companies who sell
their covers on a subscription basis. The combination of the cachet and
the First Day of Issue cancellation is what gives a First Day Cover its
value. One other factor that adds value to a First Day Cover is its
being unaddressed.
Prior to the 1970's, a collector was responsible for
sending his cover, after receiving it from company that produced it, to
the city of issue for the new stamp to be put on and cancelled. If a
separate envelope was not furnished, it had to be addressed in order for
it to come back to the collector. Today, private companies send their
envelopes to the city of issue post office in bulk. They are sent back
to the company, which, in turn sends it out to its subscribers, not as a
piece of mail, but in another envelope. |
|
What is a
Commemorative Cover? |
It looks like a First Day Cover, in the fact that it is usually in
the form of an envelope. It has a stamp and a cancellation. The
difference is that a Commemorative Cover has nothing to do with the
stamp - its purpose merely furnishes current postage, for without it,
the post office will not affix a postmark. Because the post office
cannot 'lie' about the date or the city, the postmark will 'freeze' a
particular event or anniversary of an event. In our example, we have
used a Presidential Inaugural Cover. The date is the actual day of the
inauguration and the city, Washington DC, is where the event occurred.
|
|
What is a
Souvenir Sheet? |
 A Souvenir Sheet is one or several stamps surrounded by extra
artwork. They are produced to be collected and are meant to be left
intact. |
|
What is a
Proof Card? |
 A Proof Card can be a First Day Cover or a Commemorative Cover. It's
printed on heavy card stock paper and has a cachet usually with an
embossed border. |
|
What is a
Maxi Card? |
 Also called a Maxi Card, it's a First Day Cover (4 x 5 3/4 inches)
printed on heavy card stock paper. Its name comes from the fact that it
is 'maximum' artwork - artwork encompassing the entire card. In order
for the 'First Day of Issue' wording not to interfere with the picture,
it is omitted... just the stamp and cancellation mark with the city of
issue and the date appear. The company that produces these includes an
accompanying commentary on the back and the words 'First day of Issue'
are printed there as well. |
|
What is a
Collector Panel? |
 This piece of postal memorabilia is printed on heavy card stock
paper, often featuring original artwork, with a place to display stamps
in mint condition. These are very decorative and are beautiful framed. |
|
What is a
Postal Stationery? |
| Envelopes, aerogrammes, stamped postal cards, and letter sheets with
printed or embossed stamp designs. We've used a stamped postal card
commemorating the University of Wisconsin as an example. |
|
|
