Print |
E-mail to a friend
NEWS
Choosing commemorative stamps: Citizens' Advisory Committee sifts through thousands of submissions
One of the new stamps for 2009 celebrates the Chinese New Year.
Annual commemorative stamp subjects are highly guarded -- and anticipated -- by the philatelic community and others, like me, who love the mail, write lots of letters and look forward to their own mail moment every day.
So how does the Postal Service decide on stamp subjects?
It all starts with the Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee.
Every year, as many as 50,000 letters suggesting commemorative stamp subjects are sent to the committee. Every stamp suggestion meeting criteria is considered, regardless of who makes it or how it's presented, as long as the idea is submitted in writing. This gives everyone the same opportunity to submit their ideas.
Since 1957, when it was established, the committee -- on behalf of the Postmaster General -- evaluates the merits of all stamp proposals. The committee's primary goal is to select subjects of broad national interest that are both interesting and educational. Stamp selections are made with all postal customers in mind, not just stamp collectors. A good mix of subjects, both interesting and educational, is essential.
Committee members are appointed by the Postmaster General and must have a diverse educational, artistic, historical and professional background and have an interest in the stamp program and the needs of the mailing public.
Currently, there are 13 members:
Former Postmaster General Benjamin Bailar.
Retired U.S. Congressional staff member and Adjunct Professor of Government and History Cary Brick.
TV Sports Commentator and Olympic swimming champion Donna DeVarona.
American Film Institute President Emerita Jean Picker Firstenberg.
Alphonse Fletcher University Professor and W.E.B. Du Bois Institute for African and African-American Research at Harvard University Henry Louis Gates.
Information Design Strategist and Graphic Designer Sylvia Harris.
Graphic Designer, Author, Yale School of Art Senior Critic and Winterhouse Studio Partner Jessica Helfand.
University of California Berkeley Chancellor Emeritus and Smithsonian Institution Secretary Emeritus I. Michael Heyman.
Department of State-Consular Affairs Representative, Philatelic Writer, Editor, Lecturer, Judge and Past President of American Philatelic Society John Hotchner.
Actor and Past Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences President Karl Malden.
Patron of the Arts and former vice presidential first lady Joan Mondale.
Graphis Inc. owner, publisher and creative director B. Martin Pedersen.
Fordham University Professor of Sociology and author Clara E. Rodriguez.
The committee meets four times a year to review all eligible proposals that have been received since the previous meeting. Members also review and provide guidance on artwork and stamp designs.
Want to submit an idea?
Subjects should be submitted at least three years in advance of the proposed date of issue. This allows time for consideration and for design and production if the subject is chosen.
The Postal Service has the final authority to determine both subject matter and design for all U.S. postage stamps and postal stationery.
If your idea is selected, you won't get a heads up. Just like the rest of the nation, you'll have to wait until a general announcement is made to the public.
To send in your idea, mail it to: Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee, c/o Stamp Development, U.S. Postal Service, 1735 N Lynn St. Room 5013, Arlington, VA 22209-6432.
Marilyn Loeser is the eastern area writer/editor for the U.S. Postal Service.
Before the Citizen's Stamp Advisory Committee will consider a stamp subject proposal, it has to meet certain standards from the U.S. Postal Service.
The 12 major stamp subject criteria are:
Generally, postage stamps and stationery feature American or American-related subjects.
No living person can be honored by portrayal on U.S. postage.
Commemorative stamps honoring individuals are usually issued on, or in conjunction with significant anniversaries of their birth, but no postal item will be issued sooner than five years after the individual's death. The only exception to the five-year rule is the issuance of stamps honoring deceased U.S. presidents. They may be honored with a memorial stamp on the first birth anniversary following their death.
Events of historical significance shall be considered for commemoration only on anniversaries in multiples of 50 years.
Only events, persons, and themes of widespread national appeal and significance will be considered for commemoration. Events, people or themes of local or regional significance may be recognized by a philatelic or special postal cancellation, which may be arranged through the local Postmaster.
Stamps or stationery items can't be issued to honor fraternal, political, sectarian or service/charitable organizations, or promote commercial enterprises or products. Commercial products or enterprises might be used to illustrate more general concepts related to American culture.
Stamps or stationery items can't honor cities, towns, municipalities, counties, primary or secondary schools, hospitals, libraries or similar institutions due to the limited number of stamps issued every year.
Statehood anniversaries will be considered for commemorative postage stamps only at intervals of 50 years from the date of the state's first entry into the Union. Requests for observance of other state-related or regional anniversaries will be considered only as subjects for postal stationery, and again only at intervals of 50 years from the date of the event.
Stamps or stationery items shall not be issued to honor religious institutions or individuals whose principal achievements are associated with religious undertakings or beliefs.
Semipostal stamps are designed to raise funds for causes determined to be in the national public interest and appropriate. Semipostal stamps are sold for a price above their postage value. The differential between the sales price and the postage value of semipostal stamps consists of an amount to be given to other executive agencies in furtherance of specified causes.
Requests for commemoration of universities and other institutions of higher education shall be considered only for stamped cards and only in connection with the 200th anniversaries of its founding.
No stamp shall be considered for issuance if the same subject stamp has been issued in the past 50 years. The only exceptions to this rule are traditional themes such as national symbols and holidays.
