This Day in Postal History...

On today's date in 1957 the very first meeting of the Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee met for the first time. The stamp advisory committee "shall advise the post office department on any matters pertaining to the subject matter, design, production and issuance of postage stamps." This committee is made up of up to 15 members who were appointed by the Postmaster General. They are experts in many subjects including history, science and art.

The committee meets 4 times a year to review suggestions for postage stamp subjects. The postal service receives 50,000 suggestions for stamp subjects each year and according to their own website, each subject is reviewed. That means that each meeting of the committee they are reviewing an average of 12,500 subjects. Can you imagine that? I can't imagine being able to review that many subjects let alone being one of the members of a committee that gets to select the stamp subjects. Ultimately the decision of whether a subject will be used on US postage is up to the Postmaster General.

If you would like to write to them with a suggestion the address is as follows:

Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee

c/o Stamp Development

U.S. Postal Service

475 L'Enfant Plaza SW, Room 3300

Washington, DC 20260-3501

One of the neat things about suggesting subjects for stamps is that they will only accept suggestions by mail. You can't even hand deliver a suggestion! I think that is very neat and quite rare in today's world.

Have you ever sent in a submission? I haven't but I am adding it to my to-do list! 

Mail Call Monday

This photo shows the mail I have received in the last week (happy mail anyway). One of those letters included stamps for me to use on letters I plan on writing. It was also the very first bit of mail to the Post Office Box. It felt awesome getting some mail in there. I must say I thought checking the PO Box would be boring (like checking my boring box closer to my house) but it actually was fun! I love opening it to see...could there be a letter waiting for me?

If you're expecting a letter, I should have it in the post before Friday. And if you're not expecting anything why not send a card or letter and I will return that kindness. We all need more happy mail in our lives. 

More Soon.

Stamp Sunday

Issue Date: September 3, 1957

This Special Delivery stamp is one of my favorite stamps. I don't know why. Perhaps it's just the fact that is shows mail on the front. I love the red color and the fact that it was printed on rotary press. Or maybe it is because uses techniques that I would have used in printmaking class in college. Either way this stamp is placed among some of my favorites in a stamp album. (I collect stamps, but I collect only those I really like.) 

Special Delivery stamps were pre-payments added to regular postage for an extra service. The stamp allowed immediate delivery of that letter within one mile of any special delivery post office. A post office was a special delivery office if it had free routine delivery service or if it were in a community with at least 4,000 people. 

Special delivery was first introduced in 1885 and in its first year became so popular that all post offices began to offer the service. Special delivery ran from 1885 until 1997 when the USPS officially terminated the practice. Above is just one example of special delivery postage that was issued. Overall, there are 23 special delivery postage stamps and 3 airmail postage stamps that were issued during its run. These postage stamps are not rare in used form as the service was pretty common though unused postage has a slight rarity. The USPS offered to accept the unused stamps back when the service was ended in 1997 because these special delivery stamps are not able to be used as regular postage (who knew?). Therefore, a lot of unused stamps went back to the USPS and I would guess they destroyed them. 

Do you have any Special Delivery stamps in your collection?

Stationery Find

Do you ever go hunting for stationery in off the wall places? Since I decided to get back into writing I realized that I have a SEVERE lack of stationery. At the height of my blogging/writing I had amassed a nice collection of envelopes, cards and all manner of stationery. I compiled that collection from months of searching and mostly stumbling upon those items in shops along my travels. Finding stamps to put on letters is an easy task. Finding stationery that is exciting...not so much. Unfortunately, the town I live in doesn't have a shop with such items. My only options are big box stores (which don't get me wrong, I shop in them a lot) but they do not tend to carry things that excite me in this respect.

Today I decided to bargain hunt the local Goodwill to see if I could find something interesting. (I love thrifting...something about getting a good deal is just incredibly satisfying.) I found that adorable Snoopy stationery set still sealed for $2. How could I pass that up? I also found a variety of sized envelopes for $1.50 and a set of super cute notebooks (pictured below) for $2.

There are actually three notebooks there. They are different designs but are what you might expect the Pendleton shirts would look like. I believe they are probably close to Moleskine style on the inside (I haven't even opened them yet how silly!). I think I may use one to keep track of addresses and the other...well who knows!

Anyway, am I the only one who attempts to find stationery that is not in a traditional box store or online? Where do you find your happy mail supplies?

Send a Card Won't you?

Hey everyone! I just stumbled across another cause that is looking for cards. The beneficiary of this cause is a little girl by the name of Eva. She is 11 years old and went through a kidney transplant in January. Since then she has basically been housebound. A family is collecting cards for her and will deliver them in person. Here is the address:

Culver's Attention: Eva
1912 State Route 256
Reynoldsburg, OH 43068

I will be mailing out a card today. Will you?

Postcrossing

I finally did it. I jumped into Postcrossing again. I had limited myself to only sending 5 of the 13 I could send at once...and then I accidentally hit the button one more time. Its quite addictive isn't it? Well I think I will try to limit the number of cards I send out through the site in the future. I love sending and receiving cards, but I would honestly rather spend my postage connecting with all of you! So no worries, Postcrossing will not cut into my stamp budget for my wonderful penpals!

Do you still Postcross?

Self Service Kiosk

Does your post office have a self service kiosk? Have you ever used it? I used one for the first time recently. Or at least its the first time I can recall using one. I decided to print some international postage (someone failed to order any on her last stamp order...) and it was surprisingly easy. I just touched the screen found the international postage option and selected how many. Within a few minutes I had postage printed without waiting in a line.

Biggest downside as far as I am concerned is that the postage isn't all that pretty. But in a pinch if you needed to mail something after hours at the post office or on a Sunday (which is when I will most likely make it to the post office) the kiosk may work for you! I also thought this may be the perfect way to avoid stares from the postal employees when I mail out frisbees or other odd "packages".

More soon!

Postage Release: Little Mo Forever Stamp

Today is the official release of the "Little Mo" postage stamp. Depicted on the stamp is Maureen Connolly Brinker who was known by the nickname Little Mo. She was a world class tennis star and the first woman to win all four grand slam tournaments in the same calendar year in 1953. Unfortunately, the following year she suffered an injury that ended her competitive career. And in 1955 she officially retired from the sport when she announced her marriage to Norman Brinker, a member of the Olympic equestrian team. (Also interesting to note the Norman went on to create the business concept known as the salad bar.) Maureen passed away, well before her time, at the age of 34 from complications related to ovarian cancer.

One of the things I really enjoy about featuring new stamp releases is getting to know more about the subjects portrayed. I had no idea who "Little Mo" was, other than she must have been good at Tennis. In my research, I learned so much more about the lady who made big enough impact to be immortalized on US postage. 

Did you know about Little Mo before this post? Do you plan on buying these stamps? I know I will be getting a few!

Monday Mail Call

Just as I have said I would do a post on Sundays about stamps, Mondays will be a Mail Call. Above is a picture of my most recent sent items. Mostly postcards, but there is a letter (with the John Lennon stamp) for a follower as well. Behind the mail you can see my mail box. Or well, the mailboxes, mine is actual #7 and that is hidden behind the mail. Quite boring right? I will have to snap a picture of the post office box to share on here the next time I pop into the PO. (It isn't pretty either I'm afraid). 

The postcards I sent were vintage ones I purchased on Ebay. I found a wonderful seller that wasn't trying to get an arm and a leg for them. I am slowly attempting to amass a collection of stationery so I have all necessary items on hand to reply and send lots of happy mail. I've even been thinking about starting Postcrossing again. Does anyone still do that? Anyway, I hope those postcards and letters arrive in their destinations soon. Closest one is going about an hour away here in Oregon, and the farthest is headed off to Switzerland. :)

I should hop off for now, I have more posts to research and letters to write. What did you send this week?  

Stamp Sunday

So I had decided that I would do a regular post on Sundays that highlighted stamps I was fond of. Well as it does sometimes, life got in my way of having a post ready for today. So instead I will be showing you my first stamp haul from the USPS website.

After uploading I realized that the photo shows most of the stamps upside down. If I had more time (it is Easter after all ) I would have flipped the picture for you. But I think you can still get the idea from this. I bought just under $50 in stamps to jump start my collection of recents to send. I will definitely be placing another order (my original cart was almost $150!) but decided to wait a bit and slowly add more to the collection. 

Short post for today, but I am curious...Do you purchase your stamps at the post office? Or do you purchase online? I prefer to pick them up at the post office, but mine doesn't seem to have much variety. (You know posters on the wall of all the pretty ones, but only carried the basics.)

Enjoy your Sunday! Happy Easter to those of you that celebrate!

Post Office Box

So as some of you may have read in a previous post I have signed up for a PO box. Normally I just received mail at my physical location, however here in Oregon I do not have a mail box at my house. (Sad I know). We have a centralized mailbox and to be honest that bums me out. When I thought about starting the whole letting writing thing again I decided I would do a post office box. Things have changed a bit since I wrote this blog before and I am not as trusting as I once was to post a physical address online. I am sure you all understand.

My question for all of you that have post office boxes is...How often do you check it? If I am honest I probably will not check mine but maybe once a week unless for some reason the amount of mail increases. My job is close to home so the post office (for much of my week) is considered out of the way. Lets face it sometimes when you are finished with work the last thing on your mind is driving out of your way to check the mail. (Maybe that will change with an influx of happy mail)

Anyway, it feels good to get back in the swing of writing. If you have made it this far with me thank you! I appreciate your patience while I figure out how to balance work/writing with everything else in life.

More soon my friends!

The Letter

Messenger of Sympathy and Love
Servant of Parted Friends
Consoler of the Lonely
Bond of the Scattered Family
Enlarger of the Common Life

Carrier of News and Knowledge
Instrument of Trade and Industry
Promoter of Mutual Acquaintance
Of Peace and of Goodwill Among Men and Nations.

    -Charles William Eliot


I had never read this poem, but I found it when looking up another subject for another post. This poem is actually posted outside the National Postal Museum in Washington, DC. I have never been there but I am dying to go.

I wonder if the poem still holds the same truth that it did when it was written. Seems postal communication is becoming more and more antiquated as the years continue on. Still I like to think that written communications mean more now than ever.

Project Postal

In looking for some interesting things to write about here to jump start the revitalization of this blog I came across a curious news article. It is about something called Project Postal.

It is about a gentleman (pictured above, photo credit to Michael Tracy) named David Tracy. He bought an old postal Jeep and prepared it to make the 1,800 mile journey from Michigan to Moab, Utah. How crazy is that? I will certainly be following his journey on Instagram. I mean who wouldn't want to drive an old postal vehicle across the country?

Post Office Box

Just a quick post letting everyone know I have gotten my post office box! If you wish to write to me the address is:

Therealpenthief (AKA Misty Davis)
PO Box 268
Redmond, OR 97756

I look forward to seeing happy mail there soon!!

Postal Service Creed

Pictured above is the James A. Farley Post Office in NYC. Just above the pillars you can see the inscription that all of us know as the United States Postal Service Creed.

"Neither snow nor rain not heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds"

Did you know, however, that this is actually not an official motto or creed of the USPS? I had no idea until I was researching the previous post about sending birds to deliver messages. This creed was actually originally used as a description of the courier service in ancient Persia. It is said to originally been written by Herodotus (c. 484 BC- 425/413 BCE).

"It is said that as many days as there are in the whole journey, so many are the men and horses that stand along the road, each horse and man at the interval of a day’s journey; and these are stayed neither by snow nor rain nor heat nor darkness from accomplishing their appointed course with all speed."              -Herodotus, Histories (8.98) (trans. A. D. Godley, 1924)

It is kind of curious how things like that become so well known even when they are not officially recognized by the organization. I am sure there are plenty of other examples like this, but I cannot think of any more at the moment. Have any of you actually seen the James A Farley post office? What did you think of it?

Not Quite the Raven of Westeros

In honor of the premier of the final season of Game of Thrones I thought we would look into the history of having birds deliver important messages. In the show (and the books) there is a lot of talk about sending ravens to deliver messages of war. However, ravens (from what I have read) were not used to deliver such messages no matter how badly fiction wants it to be true.

Pictured above is by far the most famous homing pigeon Cher Ami. She is famous for delivering a message from an encircled battalion even though she was quite wounded during WWI. You can see in the photo above that she is missing her right leg. She was also shot through the breast and blinded in one of her eyes. Yet she still managed to deliver her message:

"We are along the road paralell to 276.4. Our own artillery is dropping a barrage directly on us. For heavens sake stop it."

 Seems she followed the motto "Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds" a bit more seriously than most.

While most pigeon post went out of fashion shortly after the first world war it is said that some pigeons are still being used for sneakernet purposes. But that is surely a post for another time.

If you're a Game of Thrones fan I will be curious to know what you think of tonight's premiere. Leave me a comment below, but be mindful of not spoiling it for anyone else.

A Long Time Coming

I have decided after much deliberation to bring this blog back from the dead. In the past few months I realized how much I have missed it. Blogging and writing to all of you gave me something to take my mind off the "real" happenings in my life. And lets all face it, sometimes you just need an escape. 

In the past few months I have actually semi reconnected with a few of you and it has felt amazing. It made me realize that on some level all the effort I put into blogging and letter writing hasn't been forgotten. I have been dabbling for a couple months with sending the occasional postcard through Reddit. However, I had not actually taken to full on letter writing/ exchanging until just recently. 

Today (or rather yesterday) I received a wonderful letter from a former snail mail associate Jenny. I cannot tell you how much the letter brightened my day (even if some of the topics weren't the happiest). Somehow letter writing can be very cathartic and I am looking forward to that benefit. 

Look at how adorable the card is!! Before I opened it I was confused by the thickness of the envelope. But once I opened it I realized why. The embroidered design adds a bit of thickness, but it was not enough to add any additional postage. 

I should also point out that it was the first time I have received a letter sealed with a wax seal in what seemed like forever!

My fiance Johnny was pretty funny when he handed it to me. He told me I got "fancy" mail because of the seal. I have to admit it does add a bit of appeal doesn't it? I honestly was surprised it made it all the way across the country without getting damaged in transit. I think I will have to invest in a wax seal kit myself so I can seal some of my own missives. 

If you have stuck around through this first (probably clunky and awkward) post I hope you will join be again soon. My mind is brimming with ideas of what to write about. Though I am always up for suggestions as well. I noticed quite a few of the blogs I used to follow are no longer being updated. Has everyone moved on to just updating Instagram?

Until next time my friends!