Learn More about US Stamps

Owney the Postal Dog E-book

Chances are you’ve heard about Owney the Postal Dog. Now you can enjoy the tale of the terrier mixed-breed dog with your young friends.

In 1963, the US introduced a “Zone Improvement Plan” designed to move mail more efficiently. Used in postal addresses, the five-digit code helped “ZIP” mail along more quickly. Zip codes were optional until 1967, when they became mandatory. Some members of the public were resistant to change, prompting the US Postal Service to make this … Read more

Come Fly with Early Airmail Pilots

This series of videos was produced in 1935 by the U.S. Postal Service to promote airmail service and showcase the DeHavilland DH-4 plane. Part 1 features a daylight flight, while Part 2 shows how lighted beacons guided the way at night. We love the retro feel – and how it feels like you’re flying along … Read more

The Stickney Press: a Revolution in Stamp Production

Benjamin Rollin Stickney isn’t a household name. In fact, he’s not known at all today outside of collectors and a handful of government workers. But Stickney caused a revolution in stamp production that saved the government time and money. Lots of money. Stickney was born in Port Henry, a tiny town located on the shores of … Read more

Crop of the Americas Identifier

In 2006, the bountiful harvests Americans produce each year were pictured on five stamp designs. The stamps were produced in coils as well as convertible and vending booklets. Telling the look-alike stamps apart is as easy as checking the perforations. Here’s how:

Admiral Byrd and the “Little America” stamp design

U.S. #733 commemorates Admiral Byrd’s historic expedition to the South Pole. President Franklin D. Roosevelt helped design the stamp, which depicts the route Byrd’s explorers traveled.

Panama-Pacific Exposition Video

The 1913 Panama-Pacific commemoratives were issued to publicize the upcoming 1915 exposition in San Francisco. The fair celebrated the opening of the Panama Canal and honored the discovery of the Pacific Ocean 400 years earlier. Ever wonder what it was like to attend one of these grand international fairs? This video will give you an … Read more

"Visit" the Trans-Mississippi Expo

The Trans-Mississippi stamps of 1898 were produced in conjunction with the Trans-Mississippi and International Exposition. The fair’s purpose was to further the progress and development of natural resources west of the Mississippi River. This video shows scenes from the fair, which was held well over 100 years old. Click here to view the Trans-Mississippi stamps.

Scenes from the 1893 Columbian Expo

Issued to commemorate the 1893 Columbian Exposition, the Columbian stamps are among the most desirable of all U.S. stamps. This video captures some of the awe of that huge World’s Fair. Now that you’ve traveled back in time and “visited” the Columbian Expo, take a few minutes to enjoy that 1893 stamp series that commemorated … Read more