Boobies!!

Now I know why more men collect stamps than women do.
No wonder more men collect stamps than women do.

There are actually quite a lot of US stamps that have nudes as part of the design (just check out the Newpaper stamps). It is a popular collecting topic, in fact, there is a very successful topical exhibit entitled "Those Beguiling Orbs of Beauty" (about as soft of a description as one could imagine, I think!). My own take on why these nudes were acceptable to puritanical societies is because they usually depicted either a mythical goddess or a well known statue, so may not have been viewed as risque as we may believe.

I wonder if the outrage might have been greater if the stamps in question were seen more often by the public at large?

Consider the Standing Liberty Quarter. The image of Liberty was initially depicted with a bare breast (1916-17), but was quickly modified through the addition of a chain-mail coverup (1918-30).

I think it was due to public outcry, though a coin collector might have a more-complete story about it. Whatever the reason, the public would have had much more exposure to the SLQ than a newspaper stamp, so I wonder how accepting they really were...

Agree with Bill that "mythical" nudes were more acceptable. The "Spirit of Justice" has graced the Great Hall of the Department of Justice since the 1930s. It lead to the famous photo of Attorney General Meese holding his report on pornography with the statue in the background. Attorney General Ashcroft had drapes installed in front of the statue (since removed) reportedly to create a better background for tv cameras.

Makes good sense. I thought about a naked topical collection but assumed the material was limited. I did find this cover and it was purchased strictly for the Philatelic aspect :)

As noted by Mr. Weiss, I have seen the exhibit "Those Beguiling Orbs of Beauty." It was well done and as worthy as any other topical exhibit. I know there also is a very detailed and fascinating exhibit on venereal disease. (Since I am disease-phobic, it's not a great favorite top of mine, but was well done.) But I didn't mean to change the subject.

In the Western World, it's an open society and should be an open hobby without censorship. I imagine the topical list is much smaller to collectors in more politically and socially restrictive climates.

There's always the classic Goya stamps from Spain too.

I met a dealer at a bourse in Michigan who was cutting out the nude from the Goya and carefully gluing it atop the 3c USA honoring mothers stamp. The result was hilarious. He was selling them and making quite a tidy profit! I wish I had a copy to scan and show all you boobie admirers.

Perhaps I should get the gals together to start a topic discussing certain parts of the male anatomy. We wouldn't want you fellas to feel ignored!

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Cleverly-re...em35e2f05d7c

Poor scan, unfortunately.

Purely philatelic. (.)(.)

philatelia - neat story - surely one of the many photoshop whizzes here could recreate that.