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The Citizens’ Stamp Advisory Committee (CSAC) was created in 1957, the same year I began my U.S. commemorative stamp collection. This body of 15 experts recommends to the Postmaster General the relatively few stamps to be issued from among the plethora of topics suggested for commemoration by the public. As a boy, collecting contemporary U.S. commemorative stamps provided me with a history of America that was progressive, patriotic, outward looking, and optimistic. I wondered if a similar young person collecting these commemoratives 50 years later would discover a similar history. Despite the increase of more than fourfold in the number of stamps issued in similar 4-year periods separated by 50 years (1957–60 compared to 2007–10) the answer to the question I posed is a qualified “yes.” I deem the “contemporary” stamps more attractive than their “historic” counterparts but there is a great deal more pandering that both parallels and intersects with the patriotic themes of the contemporary stamps. Two major factors account for this change: (1) different printing techniques allow for greater variation in stamp design, shape, colors, and ways of displaying multiple examples of a theme on a single sheet with some of these modern techniques bordering on gimmickry; and (2) the dual mission of the USPS created from the Post Office in 1971 that is charged both to provide an efficient communication delivery service and to enhance commercial revenue through the sale of stamp products. Thus, many contemporary stamps pander for sales by including cartoon characters and focusing on popular culture icons and popular collector topics (e.g., space, prehistoric animals, sports). Such popular stamps may attract a newer, younger audience to the hobby of stamp collecting and enhance the revenue generated by the USPS. More importantly for the story of America is that many contemporary stamps, especially those issued as part of a designated series, are just as patriotic as stamps of the historic period, are more inclusive of groups and topics previously underrepresented, such as Black heritage, American journalists, civil rights pioneers, and focus much more on the environment than their historic counterparts.

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Parallels and Intersections: Patriotism and Pandering on U.S. Commemorative Postage Stamps Since 1957

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  • 发表日期：

    2026年

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  • Thomas L. Bell

摘要

The Citizens’ Stamp Advisory Committee (CSAC) was created in 1957, the same year I began my U.S. commemorative stamp collection. This body of 15 experts recommends to the Postmaster General the relatively few stamps to be issued from among the plethora of topics suggested for commemoration by the public. As a boy, collecting contemporary U.S. commemorative stamps provided me with a history of America that was progressive, patriotic, outward looking, and optimistic. I wondered if a similar young person collecting these commemoratives 50 years later would discover a similar history. Despite the increase of more than fourfold in the number of stamps issued in similar 4-year periods separated by 50 years (1957–60 compared to 2007–10) the answer to the question I posed is a qualified “yes.” I deem the “contemporary” stamps more attractive than their “historic” counterparts but there is a great deal more pandering that both parallels and intersects with the patriotic themes of the contemporary stamps. Two major factors account for this change: (1) different printing techniques allow for greater variation in stamp design, shape, colors, and ways of displaying multiple examples of a theme on a single sheet with some of these modern techniques bordering on gimmickry; and (2) the dual mission of the USPS created from the Post Office in 1971 that is charged both to provide an efficient communication delivery service and to enhance commercial revenue through the sale of stamp products. Thus, many contemporary stamps pander for sales by including cartoon characters and focusing on popular culture icons and popular collector topics (e.g., space, prehistoric animals, sports). Such popular stamps may attract a newer, younger audience to the hobby of stamp collecting and enhance the revenue generated by the USPS. More importantly for the story of America is that many contemporary stamps, especially those issued as part of a designated series, are just as patriotic as stamps of the historic period, are more inclusive of groups and topics previously underrepresented, such as Black heritage, American journalists, civil rights pioneers, and focus much more on the environment than their historic counterparts.