BGuthrie Photos: DC -- Natl Postal Museum -- Exhibit (Gross Gallery 4): Connect with U.S. Stamps

DC -- Natl Postal Museum -- Exhibit (Gross Gallery 4): Connect with U.S. Stamps:

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Specific picture descriptions: Photos above with "i" icons next to the bracketed sequence numbers (e.g. "[1] ") are described as follows:
1. STAMPC_131026_002.JPG: What's In Your Attic? Save your family history by preserving letters, envelopes, and other documents that provide a window into the past. These personal documents are resources for future generations. They tell your family's unique story and reflect the time and place in which you live. Preserving treasured letters and mail is not difficult, and you do not have to be a professional conservator to do it.
2. STAMPC_131026_004.JPG: Storing Documents: Documents generally do well in places where people feel physically comfortable. * Remove them from hot attics, damp basements, and other areas with extreme temperature or humidity changes. * Store them in a closet or under a bed, away from exterior walls, lights, and vents. * Cover the stored documents to keep off dust.
3. STAMPC_131026_008.JPG: Organizing Documents: Organize the documents in a useful order in acid-free containers, and make sure newspapers and photos do not touch each other. * Remove rubber bands, paper clips, and plastic enclosures. * Take letters out of envelopes, but store them together. * Never pull off old tape, make repairs with tape, or try to unfold documents if they resist. Leave those jobs for professional conservators.
4. STAMPC_131026_010.JPG: Displaying Documents: Buy albums from companies that provide complete details on the materials used in their products. * Use corner mounts or clear enclosures made of polypropylene, polyethylene, or polyester. * When displaying documents on walls, use archival framing materials with protective glazing. * Hang away from exterior walls and with minimal exposure to light.
5. STAMPC_131026_018.JPG: Connect with U.S. Stamps: Since a profile of Queen Victoria appeared on the Penny Black in 1840, the look of stamps has changed in a number of ways. In the United States, modern stamps reflect the nation's cultural diversity, varied interests, and changing styles. Discover how modern stamps are designed and produced, meet famous stamp designers and collectors, and design a stamp of your own.
6. STAMPC_131026_022.JPG: (1847) Content: Early stamps usually depicted famous historical figures including: * Founding fathers * Presidents * Statesmen * Military officers
7. STAMPC_131026_024.JPG: (1847) Design: The design of early stamps was typically very ornate with: * one or two colors in rich hues * serif fonts * fancy frames
8. STAMPC_131026_027.JPG: (1847) Production: Early stamps were produced on flat plate presses: * a recessed engraving produced a sharp image * the later addition of perforations enabled easy separation
9. STAMPC_131026_031.JPG: How Have US Stamps Changed? Stamp topics, designs, and production have changed dramatically over the years. As American identity has changed over time, so have the images depicted on stamps. Modern stamps still include the country and value. But the topics on stamps are now nearly unlimited, and their artwork reflects changes in graphic art styles, fonts, media, and printing technologies.
10. STAMPC_131026_044.JPG: Stamp Design: The composition of a stamp must be strong and original, and the design has other special requirements. A stamp image should be simple but eye-catching and stand out from the background. The design must reduce well, leave space for letters and numbers, and be difficult to counterfeit. Some stamps show works of art, but the designer does not merely copy the artwork. Rather, the designer uses graphic elements from the art to create a new design that works as a stamp.
11. STAMPC_131026_047.JPG: Where do stamp ideas come from? Every year the US Postal Service (USPS) assembled a list of stamp subjects that portray a range of American experiences, reflect the nation's cultural diversity, and have broad national appeal. Suggested must be submitted at least three years before the appropriate time for the stamp to be issued. The Citizen's Stamp Advisory Committee reviews the ideas and makes recommendations to the Postmaster General.
12. STAMPC_131026_050.JPG: (1893) Content: During the late 1800s and early 1900s, stamps focused on historical topics such as: * Migration and territorial expansion. * Anniversaries of historical events * War and propaganda * Famous Americans (1933) Design: Stamp design became more streamlined through the use of: * lighter colors * san serif fonts * optional frames
13. STAMPC_131026_053.JPG: (1933) Design: Stamp design became more streamlined through the use of: * lighter colors * san serif fonts * optional frames
14. STAMPC_131026_056.JPG: (1914) Production: The use of rotary presses led to the introduction of: * Photo engraving, which produced grainier images * Expanded formats such as coil stamps
15. STAMPC_131026_070.JPG: Stamp Production: Changes in technologies and available materials have affected the look of stamps -- and will continue to do so. Today engraving is still used to produce some stamps, but sparingly because of its high cost. Other methods include photogravure, which "engraves" the metal plate using chemicals and light rather than tools. Offset lithography uses flexible rubber or aluminum plates, which are not engraved at all. These processes are easier and less expensive than engraving, and they produce more colorful images. The look of stamps will continue to evolve with technology.
16. STAMPC_131026_073.JPG: 37c Lewis & Clark Expedition frame intaglio printing plate, 2004: Touch this intaglio printing plate for the Lewis & Clark Expedition stamp. The frame of the stamp design was engraved for intaglio printing. The vignette, however, was printed by offset.
17. STAMPC_131026_079.JPG: 32c Alfred Hitchcock perforation plate, 1998: Touch this perforation plate for the Alfred Hitchcock stamp. Look carefully for the star-shaped perforations and the laser-cut profile of Hitchcock.
18. STAMPC_131026_092.JPG: (1968) Content: In recent decades stamp content has focused on common national interests such as: * popular culture * American diversity * holidays * great achievements
19. STAMPC_131026_095.JPG: (1967) Design: Modern stamp design is more freeform and tends to use: * a full palette of colors * custom typography * the full canvas for the image
20. STAMPC_131026_096.JPG: (1967) Production: The introduction of offset presses and computer technology has enabled: * a wider range of ink color * innovations such as holograms and die cuts * chemical technology has enabled self-adhesive stamps
21. STAMPC_131026_100.JPG: Stamp Collecting: Stamp collecting ranks among the world's most popular hobbies. As many as 22 million people collect stamps in the United States alone. Stamp collectors represent all ages and walks of life. Some have very general collections; other focus on special topics. Most are intrigued by the diversity of people, places, and objects illustrated on stamps. They want to learn where and when stamps were issued, who designed them, how they were printed and used. To these collectors, stamps bring history to life. Most of all, people collect stamps because it is fun.
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Description of Subject Matter: Connect with U.S. Stamps
September 22, 2013 – Permanent
In this interactive area, learn how stamp content, design, and production have changed over time and how modern U.S. stamps reflect the nation’s identity. Explore your own connections with stamps. At three touchscreen tables, sort through the museum’s collection and create your own stamp collection based on the topics that interest you most. Create your own stamp designs. Videos feature stamp designers talking about their craft, collectors explaining what they collect and why, and footage showing how stamps are produced.
Computer Interactives
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Directly Related Pages: Other pages with content (DC -- Natl Postal Museum -- Exhibit (Gross Gallery 4): Connect with U.S. Stamps) directly related to this one: [Display ALL photos on one page]:
- 2021_DC_SIPM_Stamps_Connect: DC -- Natl Postal Museum -- Exhibit (Gross Gallery 4): Connect with U.S. Stamps (1 photo from 2021)
Generally-Related Pages: Other pages with content (DC -- Natl Postal Museum -- Exhibit (location): ) somewhat related to this one: [Display ALL photos on one page]:
- 2012_DC_SIPM_Systems: DC -- Natl Postal Museum -- Exhibit (MIA Galleries 4): Systems at Work (48 photos from 2012)
- 2015_DC_SIPM_Stamp_Salon: DC -- Natl Postal Museum -- Exhibit (Gross Gallery 5): National Stamp Salon (72 photos from 2015)
- 2013_DC_SIPM_Stamp_Salon: DC -- Natl Postal Museum -- Exhibit (Gross Gallery 5): National Stamp Salon (18 photos from 2013)
- 2014_DC_SIPM_Stamp_Salon: DC -- Natl Postal Museum -- Exhibit (Gross Gallery 5): National Stamp Salon (1 photo from 2014)
- 2013_DC_SIPM_Stamps_World: DC -- Natl Postal Museum -- Exhibit (Gross Gallery 1): World of Stamps (27 photos from 2013)
- 2018_DC_SIPM_Stamps_World: DC -- Natl Postal Museum -- Exhibit (Gross Gallery 1): World of Stamps (33 photos from 2018)
- 2014_DC_SIPM_Stamps_Globe: DC -- Natl Postal Museum -- Exhibit (Gross Gallery 6): Stamps Around the Globe (34 photos from 2014)
- 2015_DC_SIPM_Stamps_Globe: DC -- Natl Postal Museum -- Exhibit (Gross Gallery 6): Stamps Around the Globe (135 photos from 2015)
- 2013_DC_SIPM_Stamps_Globe: DC -- Natl Postal Museum -- Exhibit (Gross Gallery 6): Stamps Around the Globe (23 photos from 2013)
- 2014_DC_SIPM_Moving: DC -- Natl Postal Museum -- Exhibit (MIA Galleries 1): Moving the Mail (2 photos from 2014)
- ...More (List all 63 pages)...
Same Subject: Click on this link to see coverage of items having the same subject: [(Smithsonian) Postal Museum] [Display ALL (Smithsonian) Postal Museum photos] [Museums (History)] [Museums (Other)]
2013 photos: Equipment this year: I mostly used my Fuji XS-1 camera but, depending on the event, I also used a Nikon D7000 and Nikon D600. Trips this year: three Civil War Trust conferences (Memphis, TN, Jackson, MS [to which I added a week to to visit sites in Mississippi, Louisiana, and Tennessee], and Richmond, VA), and my 8th consecutive San Diego Comic-Con trip (including sites in Nevada and California). Ego Strokes: Aviva Kempner used my photo of her as her author photo in Larry Ruttman's "American Jews & America's Game: Voices of a Growing Legacy in Baseball" book. Number of photos taken this year: just over 570,000.
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