US Scott #1 For Postmaster Potter

I'm a little behind on my Linn's so I just read in the Dec 6 issue that retiring Postmaster Potter has been given a Scott #1 as a parting gift.

The 1847 5c Ben Franklin stamp is one of only two examples owned by the Postal Service. The stamp has a catalog value of $6,750.

I disagree with the decision to give it to him. I don't care about the monetary value. I don't care whether he's done a good job or a bad one.

I'm disappointed they gave him one of their only two. I feel it should have been held as part of a collection, exhibit, museum, etc.

KirkS

I think he used it to pay the cable bill with a glue stick...


yes, giving it to a private citizen seems unfair. its postal history and should be treated as such.

A nice gift, isn't it? I suppose the price increase for stamps that the USPS is lobbying for will help pay for it. On the other hand, maybe the USPS is so cash-strapped right now, they had to look internally to find something of value for a gift, as they didn't have the resources to go out and buy something.

On a positive,
If he is a collector, then it is going home,
if not, (and hopefully) he will sell it,
and it ends up back in the philatelic stream.

Rod:

I don't think he'll get rid of it -- it's mounted on a large wooden plaque along with a small bust/cameo of Ben Franklin and a brass nameplate.

It's called the Benjamin Franklin Award and apparently they've been giving them away for the past 50 years, but it's not clear if everyone got a #1 -- I doubt it.

I tried to find a newspaper story with a picture, but Google let me down.

Kirk

Whaaaa!?
mounted on a plaque...

Oh My My...that's not nice.

It is a nicer gift than a coffee cup with USPS hand-painted on it.

But, just a tad much when you consider everything.

Imagine putting that in your stamp album.

Do they make Hagners for plaques??

I, too, thought that the gift was a little excessive. Seeing that it is a plaque, what damage will the #1 suffer if it is displayed? I also wonder how the stamp is mounted on the plaque.

It will fade rohumpy, guaranteed,
stamps should be kept in darkness.

Don't forget WT1, he also leaves with $5.5 Million in deferred compensation.

KirkS

Wow! $5,500,000 compensation package = 12,500,000 first class stamps! Or to put it in dollars, assuming the guy is 65 and lives another 30 years, that compensation package figures to be more than $500 a day for the rest of his life.

That is almost obscene.