Notes From A Stamp Collector
The Pan-American Exposition Issue: A Commemorative of Progress and Tragedy
The Pan-American Exposition Issue is one of the most distinctive and historically significant series of United States commemorative postage stamps. Released in conjunction with the 1901 Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo, New York, the set of six bicolor stamps...
Iconic Country Stamps: Brazil’s Bull’s Eye
Brazil's philatelic history began in 1843 with the issuance of its first postage stamps, a distinctive set collectively known as the "Bull's Eye" stamps. These pioneering issues, predating many other nations' postal services, marked a significant step in global...
Iconic Country Stamps: Canada’s Bluenose
The "Bluenose," a 50-cent stamp issued in 1929, holds a special place in Canadian philatelic history as arguably the nation's most famous postage stamp. It depicts the iconic Canadian schooner Bluenose, a vessel renowned for its speed and beauty, which dominated...
Stamp Collecting: Postage Stamp Quality vs. Filling A Space
Recently, I was speaking with a customer who asked why the White Plains Sheet (U.S. Scott# 630) was so expensive. Well not only is it the first U.S. souvenir sheet, but also a philatelic item that separates a serious U.S. stamp collector from the casual collector. I...
Trans-Mississippi Commemorative U.S. Stamps
The Trans-Mississippi Issue of 1898 stands as the second set of commemorative stamps released by the United States Post Office... a vibrant and ambitious follow-up to the Columbian Exposition issue of 1893. These stamps, comprising nine denominations ranging from one...
The Columbians: Our Nation’s First Commemorative Set
The United States’ first foray into commemorative postage stamps, the Columbian Exposition Issue of 1893, marked a significant departure from previous philatelic releases. Prior to this set, U.S. stamps primarily featured portraits of presidents and statesmen, serving...