What Is Criteria To Be On A US Postage Stamp?

The title of this thread may be a bit confusing, but here's my question:




I always thought (with the exception of US Presidents) it was a minimum of 10 years that a person had to be deceased ... and that would coincide with these two links of the explanation of the Citizens Stamp Advisory Committee rules:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citize...ry_Committee
http://www.govspot.com/ask/suggestastamp.htm

HOWEVER, in the case of yesterday's issuance of the Gregory Peck Stamp (1916-2003) he has only been dead for 8 years, so how can this be?

I then went to the USPS Citizens Stamp Advisory Committee website and note that they have apparently revised the criteria in that a person need be deceased only 5 years to be considered eligible for his/her likeness to be on a postage stamp.

http://www.usps.com/communications/...ion/csac.htm

Anyone know when this policy changed and/or why?

It would also be interesting to know if Gregory Peck (dead 8 years) would be the earliest portrayal of a person after their death on a US Postage stamp (with the exception of US Presidents, of course.)

Anyone know for sure?

not sure.. I just want to follow along..

The criteria is to have an account at zazzle.com, I think. Oh, and have money to burn. :o)

Seriously, that is a good question, wt1.

That policy changed within the last 5-10 years. I am sure someone around here knows the first stamp issued honoring a person deceased under 10 years.