You may want to check out the USPS Facebook page for interesting information and news from our nation’s postal service. Seems like it is a good way to stay current on the latest news releases from the government, as well as helpful tips for mailing.
There is also another USPS just for stamp issues that is worth checking out as well. Includes not only new issues but ones from the past.
The Smithsonian’s video on early use of technology in moving the mail in large cities.
It is probably a guarentee that we all us has lost a relative or loved one to heart disease. Heart Disease is the leading cause of death in America. Much of heart disease, however, is preventable through regular exercise and a sensible diet. The USPS has recently published a new heart health stamp to raise public awareness of these facts.
The following is the press release taken from the USPS.gov site — copies of this stamp can be purchased from the site.
With the Heart Health (Forever®) stamp, the U.S. Postal Service hopes to raise public awareness about the importance of maintaining a healthy heart. The design shows a bright yellow sun disc, a leafy green tree icon, and a blue swirl of a sky. The striding figure at the center of the stamp has a full red heart. At the figure’s feet, a large red apple represents a well-balanced diet, another essential factor in maintaining a healthy heart.
Although CHD is the leading cause of death among women and men in the U.S., it doesn’t have to be. Many cases of heart disease can be prevented. Most people can lower their risk of developing CHD — and protect their hearts for a lifetime — by making just a few lifestyle changes. Exercising and eating a heart-healthy diet are critical factors. Quitting smoking, managing stress, and getting enough sleep are equally important.
Because heart disease can develop over decades without symptoms, many people do not know they have it. Some risk factors, like age and a family history of CHD, can’t be avoided, but regular medical checkups make early detection and treatment possible.
The U.S. Postal Service has a long tradition of issuing special stamps to help raise public awareness about health and social issues. For this beautiful and upbeat stamp, art director Derry Noyes teamed up with award-winning illustrator Nicholas Wilton.
The Heart Health stamp is being issued as a Forever stamp in self-adhesive sheets of 20. Forever stamps are always equal in value to the current First-Class Mail one-ounce rate.
Made in the USA.
Issue Date: February 9, 2012
Issue City: Washington, DC 20066
24c Curtiss Jenny invert block of 4 seen at WESTPEX
On September 30, 2012, Sequoia Stamp Club will turn 65. At the September 25th club meeting, SSC will be hosting a party to commemorate the anniversary. The club will be honoring charter member, William Moll, #9. We will also have numerous past SSC presidents in attendance. A special PowerPoint presentation will be shown that displays pictures from past SSC meetings and activities.
There will also be a large cake and extra raffle drawings for all members. At this time, a special gift to all current Sequoia Stamp Club members will be given out along with a 2012 Sequoia Stamp Club Yearbook. We hope everyone will join us in this once-in-a-lifetime celebration. Guests are always welcome.
The Sequoia Stamp Club offers much for local collectors from auctions, presentations, local news, question and answering opportunities, circuit books, and fun with friends. Included in this monthly news eBlast are the upcoming Sequoia Stamp Club activities and area stamp shows.
2012 Schedule:
See you all at PENPEX 2012 on December 1 and 2.
Kristin Patterson
SSC Director at large and PENPEX Chair, penpexredwoodcity@yahoo.com
Uploaded by postzegeljournaal on Mar 19, 2010
The Inverted Jenny (also known as an Upside Down Jenny or Jenny Invert) is a United States postage stamp first issued on May 10 1918 in which the image of the Curtiss JN-4 airplane in the center of the design was accidentally printed upside-down; it is probably the most famous error in American philately. Only one pane of 100 of the invert stamps was ever found, making this error one of the most prized in all philately; an inverted Jenny was sold at a Robert A. Siegel auction in November 2007 for US $977,500.
See the inverted Jenny
WESTPEX 2012
April 27-29, 2012
Friday 10AM – 6PM
Saturday 10AM – 6PM
Sunday 10AM – 4PM
$5 Admission good for all three days
Children under 15 free with adult
Join us at the San Francisco Airport Marriott Waterfront for WESTPEX 2012.
Visit http://westpex.org/ for more details
In February 2008, the National Postal Museum received a major Smithsonian grant to digitize its certified plate proof collection. In this video the Smithsonian Channel tells the story from start to finish.
Read more: http://npm.si.edu/collection
Have Fun with Albums!The American Philatelic Society offers downloadable mini albums that you may print for personal use or distribute free of charge. The albums range from as few as four to more than 30 pages and include background information on the illustrated stamps. Albums are not necessarily comprehensive. They focus on face different stamps that the average collector has a reasonable chance to acquire often excluding expensive items and varieties. With the exception of U.S. annual pages most are licensed by Scott Publishing Company and include the Scott Catalog numbers.
The British North America Philatelic Society (BNAPS) is pleased to announce a new contest for youth ages 6 – 18. Stamp as well as cash prizes will be awarded. Teachers, scout and stamp club leaders, as well as any adult who works with youth and the stamp collecting hobby are invited to share the contest information.
Youth are asked to find one or more stamps that are a meaningful symbol of their country. Examples include flags, monuments, and other objects of historical significance. The stamp(s) will be affixed to the page along with an essay of less than 250 words. The written article should explain why the (flag, monument, historical item) is an important symbol for their country. The essays may be handwritten or typed, double space is preferred. The essay must be the original thoughts of the entrant.
Prizes will be awarded by age group: 6 – 8, 9 – 11, 12 – 14, 15 – 18. Monetary awards of $25, $10, and $5 will be awarded respectively to first, second, and third place winners in each age group. Winners will also receive a philatelic prize. The first 100 entries will receive a free packet of stamps.
Only one entry per child. Each entry should include the name of the child, complete mailing address, age as of January 1, 2012, and a brief description of their collecting interest.
Entries may be submitted electronically to nrdyer@comcast.net or by mail to Bob Dyer, 1708 Granada Court, Petaluma, CA 94954. (A photocopy may be sent – color preferred.) The entries become the property of the British North America Society and will not be returned. BNAPS reserves the right to publish entries on its website. The contest is open to youth of any country.
Deadline for contest entries to be received is May 15, 2012. Direct any questions to Bob Dyer. http://www.bnaps.org/index.htm
News from the Sequoia Stamp Club:
At the February 28 meeting a motion to accept the proposed changes to the by-laws was passed by a vote of 43 – 2. The major revision involves a change in the make-up of the Governing Board, providing for three Directors at Large to be elected directly by club members.
After a favorable vote on the amended by-laws, a special election was held to select the three new members of the Governing Board. We had six outstanding candidates which resulted in an extremely close election. The top vote getters and new members of our Board are Gil Goodrich, Kristin Patterson, and Ed Rodriguez.
The members of the Governing Board have decided to pay the cost of extending our meetings by ½ hour beginning with the March 27 meeting. This will allow for a more relaxed meeting with more time for socializing. Speakers will not be rushed to complete their presentations and we will also have time for an APS video if we choose. Finally, it will give the silent auction managers more time to process the winning bids and to pay the sellers.
Lifetime Members
At the Jan 10th meeting Jim Giacomazzi, Kristin Patterson, Darlene Hickok, and Ed Rodriguez were presented life membership awards.
Jim joined the club in 1992, serves as the auctioneer in live auctions, and is currently serving a fourth
term as club president.
Kristin joined the club in 1997, has served three terms as club president, has been the chairperson of PENPEX since 2006, and was recently elected an APS Director at Large.
Darlene has been a club member since 2001, currently serves as secretary of both Sequoia and PENPEX, and is chairperson for the Sequoia Stamps R Us Youth Group.
Ed joined Sequoia in 2001, has served six terms as Sequoia president, and currently is chairman of the program committee. Congratulations to our new life members!
At the March 27 meeting Sequoia Club President Jim Giacomazzi presented the APS “Sparkplug Award” to Severin (Steve) Morger. Steve has been a member of the Sequoia Club for over twenty years and is an APS life member. He has served as secretary of the club and is currently in charge of the silent auctions. He is a consistent volunteer for the PENPEX show and always willing to do whatever is
needed to help the club. Congratulations Steve and a big thank you for your many years of excellent service to the club.
This year the Sequoia Stamp club celebrates its 65th anniversary. We are very proud of our heritage and we have scheduled a special program for the meeting on September 25. There will be speakers, special guests, a slide show of photos, and refreshments. A 65th anniversary committee is planning the event, with the possibility of distributing a special yearbook. Guests are welcome, so be sure to mark your calendar and make every effort to attend this special event.
The Sequoia Stamp Club offers much for local collectors from auctions, presentations, local news, and question and answering opportunities. Included in this monthly news eBlast are the upcoming Sequoia Stamp Club activities and area stamp shows.
2012 Schedule:
Apr 10 – Art on Stamps – Miriam Thurston
April 14-15 – SOPEX Stamp Show, Medford, OR
Apr 24 – Live Auction – Members
April 27-29 – WESTPEX Stamp Show, Burlingame
May 8 – Forensic Philately, UNTEA Forgeries – Ed Burfine
May 22 – The Era of the Rubber Stamp – Hank Washauer – [6:30 pm Executive Board Meeting]
Hope to see you soon at a Sequoia meeting.
Jim Giacomazzi, Sequoia Stamp Club President, sequoiastampclub@yahoo.com
Please forward this email to anyone who might be interested in attending PENPEX or Sequoia Stamp Club.
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