USPS Stamps

Happy World Turtle Day! We’re celebrating today with a look at the ornate box turtle, which was featured on a stamp in 2003. This turtle has an important adaptation that protects it from predators—it can close its shell completely because it has a hinged plastron (lower shell). 

Happy birthday, James Stewart! Born on May 20, 1908, Stewart  is remembered as the hero in classic American movies such as Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939), The Philadelphia Story (1940), and Rear Window (1954). His naturalistic acting style, lanky physique, and slow, drawling speech made him seem more “real” than his contemporaries.

“MR. SMITH GOES TO WASHINGTON” © 1939, renewed 1967 Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Courtesy of Columbia Pictures.

We can never get enough Edith Piaf.

(Source: zac151)

This beautiful aster seed packet was used to create one of the Vintage Seed Packets #stamps. We can’t get enough #flowers lately!

Let’s dance! Celebrate International Dance Day with the Innovative Choreographers stamps. These Forever® stamps honor four visionaries who forever changed the art of dance: Isadora Duncan, José Limón, Katherine Dunham, and Bob Fosse. Although the stamps were issued in 2012, they are still available at usps.com/stamps.

Happy Arbor Day! Planting a tree next to your home not only cuts cooling costs by providing shade during the summer but also reduces heating costs during the winter by supplying a windbreak. This Forever® stamp is one of 16 stamps issued in 2011 that illustrate the simple things we can do to help the environment. You can find the entire set at usps.com/stamps.

Happy Earth Day!

Happy birthday, Superman! 75 years ago today the Man of Steel debuted in the pages of Action Comics #1 (cover dated June 1938). Since then his daring deeds of good not only have changed the world (and the world of comic books) but also have inspired all of us to make a difference. This stamp is one of two Superman stamps released in 2006. 

On April 15, 1947, Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in Major League Baseball when we signed with the Brooklyn Dodgers. Voted Rookie of the Year that season, he went on to earn the National League’s Most Valuable Player award in 1949. 

As the first African American in the major leagues, Robinson silently endured racial taunts, retaliation, and ostracizing, answering with a fiery brand of all-around play that earned him admission to the Baseball Hall of Fame and promoted integration in all sports.

Jackie Robinson TM, Estate of Jackie Robinson, c/o CMG Worldwide, Indpls, IN.  Major League Baseball trademarks and copyrights are used with permission of Major League Baseball.

On April 12, 1861, war broke out between the fractured North and South of the United States when Confederate forces opened fire on Fort Sumter, a federal garrison in South Carolina’s Charleston Harbor. On April 15, after Union soldiers stationed at the fort surrendered, Lincoln called for 75,000 volunteers to put down the rebellion.

The Battle of Fort Sumter marked the beginning of the Civil War, which would wage on until 1865.

Issued in 2011, this stamp is still available.