Here is the REVISED Stamp Subject Selection Criteria as issued by the Citizens Stamp Advisory Committee:
Quote:
Stamp Subject Selection Criteria
The U.S. Postal Service and the members of the Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee (CSAC) have set certain basic criteria used in determining the eligibility of subjects for commemoration on all U.S. stamps and stationery.
Following are the 12 major criteria now guiding subject selection:
1. It is a general policy that U.S. postage stamps and stationery primarily will feature American or American-related subjects. Other subjects can be considered if the subject had significant impact on American history or culture.
2. The Postal Service will honor living men and women who have made extraordinary contributions to American society and culture. These remarkable individuals through their transformative achievements in their respective fields have made enduring contributions to the United States of America.
3. Commemorative stamps or postal stationery items honoring individuals usually will be issued to celebrate births, anniversaries, and significant contributions.
4. A memorial stamp will be issued honoring deceased U.S. presidents following death.
5. Events of historical significance shall be considered for commemoration on anniversaries in multiples of 50 years.
6. Themes of widespread national appeal and significance that reflect our nation's inclusiveness, events and persons will be considered for commemoration. Official postal cancellations, which may be arranged through the local postmaster, may be requested for significant local events or commemorations.
7. Statehood anniversary commemorative postage stamps will be issued 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 as subjects for postal stationery at intervals of 50 years from the date of the event.
8. Requests for commemoration of universities and other institutions of higher education shall be considered for stamped cards in connection with the 200th anniversaries of their founding.
9. No stamp shall be considered for issuance if one treating the same subject has been issued in the past 50 years. The exceptions to this rule are traditional themes such as national symbols and holidays.
10. The stamp program commemorates positive contributions to American life, history, and culture; therefore, disasters will not be commemorated on U.S. postage stamps or stationery.
11. Due to the limitations placed on annual postal programs and the vast number of such locales, organizations and institutions in existence, it would be difficult to single out any one of the following for commemoration: government agencies, localities, non-profit organizations, associations, and similar entities. Stamps or stationery items shall not be issued to honor religious institutions or individuals whose principal achievements are associated with religious undertakings or beliefs.
12. Stamps may be issued for the major military services (Air Force, Army, Navy, and Marines) on 50-year anniversaries (or multiples) of their current organizational structure. Stamps for the major service academies will be considered on a case-by-case basis for 50-year anniversaries (or multiples). Due to the large number of individual units with the military services, stamps will not be issued to honor individual groups or units within the military.As per Point #2, it would seem the CSAC is going to have to establish their own version of what qualities a living person would have to live up to to fit into the category of "extraordinary contributions to American society and culture", as that can be viewed very differently by different people. Do sports stars or entertainers make "extraordinary contributions" to society and culture? Do businessmen whose sole purpose in life is to make a dollar fit that criteria (i.e. Warren Buffet, Bill Gates, etc.)?
It was mentioned in one place I read that someone suggested the Rev. Billy Graham, but I think that would be unlikely because Point #11 excludes those associated with "religious undertakings or beliefs".
I wonder if this change will increase the number of stamps we can expect to see from the US Postal Service in coming years? If we issue more stamps because we now will allow living persons to be depicted on them, I can see our stamp catalogs growing both in size and in price to identify them all!
Looking at it from the other extreme, will the increased number of different individuals appearing on stamps mean that the quantities of stamps issued will be higher, lower or the same as most present issues? That in itself could determine if any one specific issue may become more collectible than another.
I guess we just wait and see what develops.
Posted 09/26/2011 5:19 pm
