Thank you to everyone who came out to the Congressional Stamp Exhibit this year. It was the best one yet! (Who knew Owney and Mr. ZIP would make an appearance?!) We hope you enjoyed our pictures from the three-day event. To see more, become a fan of USPS Stamps on Facebook or follow us on Instagram and Twitter. Have a story from this year’s exhibit? Share it with us in the comments.
We sorted through more piles of stamps looking for that perfect treasure . . .
We studied Rep. Joseph R. Pitts’s collection of U.S. error stamps . . .
. . . and loved what he had to say about stamp collecting:
I think stamp collecting is important because it gives one an awareness of all the nations in the world. True friendships develop when you understand other cultures and stamp collecting is a way to jump start that understanding.
We found it hard to drag ourselves away from Rep. Robert B. Aderholt’s beautiful collection of stamps featuring state birds and flowers and Sen. Lisa Murkowski’s fantastic Alaska collection . . .
We checked out some imaginative Stamp Camp USA projects . . .
And picked up a few awesome cachets . . .
Whew!
The Congressional Stamp Exhibit closes today at 5 p.m., so if you’re in the Washington, D.C., area you still have time to check it out!
The 2012 Congressional Stamp Exhibit opened today at the Rayburn House Office Building in Washington, D.C. We were there, of course, with a table full of collectibles for all the happy stamp folks who came by. We were also eager to see the stamps and stamp-related items from the personal collections of U.S. Senators Orrin Hatch, Carl Levin, and Lisa Murkowski, and U.S. Representatives Gary L. Ackerman, Robert B. Aderholt, Wm. Lacy Clay Jr., Joseph R. Pitts, and Silvestre Reyes.
It’s a good thing the exhibit is open for three days because, wow, what a selection! The personal collections on display cover everything from Alaska and Utah on stamps to stamp errors and signed philatelic collectibles.
Stamps are a depiction of the history and culture of the nation. In collecting stamps, one can concentrate on any aspect of the culture or mood of the people, as well as own great art on the cheap. And if you’re lucky it can be a good investment and a family legacy. – Rep. Gary L. Ackerman
Representative Ackerman’s stamp collection focuses on the Heroes semipostal stamp, which was issued on June 7, 2002 (it’s hard to see, but check out the postmark date in the picture). The net proceeds from the sale of these stamps were transferred to the Federal Emergency Management Agency to provide assistance to the families of emergency relief personnel who died or were permanently disabled in the line of duty in connection with the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. Representative Ackerman’s display of canceled stamp sheets, the First Day of Issue ceremony program, and other materials was moving and a reminder that even tiny stamps can command great power and emotion.
I have always loved stamp collecting because of the people and historical moments they commemorate. Stamps tell the story of our country’s struggle to achieve a more perfect union and of the great Americans who contributed to that ongoing mission. – Rep. Wm. Lacy Clay Jr.
Representative Clay has put together a wonderful collection of framed philatelic products related to the African American experience, including Ella Fitzgerald (is that a real record in there?!), Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Josephine Baker, Booker T. Washington, and the To Form A More Perfect Union stamps. How inspiring it must be to have these hanging on the wall of his office!
We’ll have more from the exhibit tomorrow. Until then, happy stamping!
Don’t forget, stamp fans! The National Postal Museum’s Congressional Stamp Exhibit opens in just over a week. This exhibit is a great way to see the personal stamp collections of some of our senators and representatives, whether you’re a stamp collector yourself or not. Will you be there?
Come see philatelic items from the personal collections of U.S. Senators Orrin Hatch (R-UT) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), and U.S. Representatives Gary Ackerman (D-NY),Robert Aderholt (R-AL), William Lacy Clay (D-MO), Joseph PItts (R-PA), and Silvestre Reyes (D-TX).
USPS will have its own display of current stamp-related products, literature, and educational items for stamp enthusiasts of all ages. And to commemorate the event, there will be pictorial postmarking for guests who cherish collectibles.
The exhibit will take place at the Rayburn House Office Building in Washington, D.C., on July 24–26. See you on the Hill!
The Congressional Stamp Exhibit opens less than two weeks from today. Are you ready? The exhibit, which is free to the public, is a great way to see the personal stamp collections of some of our senators and representatives.
“Stamps are a great educational tool for learning about art, politics, geography, sports, history, and entertainment,” Philip LoPiccolo, government relations officer for the Smithsonian Institution, said. “I am delighted that so many Members of Congress participate in this incredible hobby and are sharing their enthusiasm for stamp collecting.”
Postage stamps, with their colorful images and real-life stories, have fascinated millions of adults and children over the years because they reflect something of interest to everyone—nature, science, sports, music, etc. “Stamps connect us with our past, document our present, and are a link to future generations,” Ian Gibson-Smith, National Postal Museum Council of Philatelists member and architect of the exhibit, said. “Every subject, every ideology, every important event can be found immortalized in exquisite miniature detail.”
The exhibit will take place at the Rayburn House Office Building in Washington, D.C., on July 24–26. Several members of Congress will display their collections, and there will also be fun activities for kids. See you on the Hill!
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