Have You Ever Submitted A Recommendation To The USPS Citizens Stamp Advisory Committee?

I had a discussion recently about people I hoped would one day be honored with a postage stamp (namely Fred Rogers), which led me to research the process for selecting stamp subjects and subsequently learning about the Stamp Advisory Committee.

Have any of you ever submitted your own recommendation to them (or any equivalent in your own country if not in the U.S.)?

No, I have never considered it. My first thoughts are that they do not care what we (the people) think, only money they can get and how many stamps they can get out to sell. The mass quantity they produce are not intended for postal use but for collectors to buy and keep. My suggestion to them would be to limit the number of yearly stamps to make it worthwhile to collect. I do not collect stamps above 1996. I was sorry to see that the Philatelic Sales Division is no longer a service of the post office. I bought a lot from them in the 1980's.

Yes I have submitted suggestions to the Irish Post Office. I cant claim credit for any that were subsequently issued. Usually a lot of people make the same suggestion. Few are "unique".
This week I am making the case for Frederick Douglass the American abolitionist (probably born in 1818) to be included in an (already agreed) issue for Martin Luther King (murdered in 1968) and Nelson Mandela (born 1918). I am basing my case for Douglass on his escape to Ireland from New York in 1840s and his journals.

jaxom100 - I, too, wonder how much weight submissions from the general public are given. Occasionally some of the releases have me scratching my head: not to harp on my favorite Mister Rogers too much, but I would have expected him to be chosen before an accomplished former president of Notre Dame at least in part because the former has more widespread recognition.

I'd also find it easier if they limited the number of releases, as I simply can't keep up! Though I do enjoy a lot of the modern ones. Having unofficially collected for years, it was a surprise to me to come online and learn many people don't much care for the newer stamps (I think I read someone say that many 'serious' collectors want nothing to do with post-WWII stamps?). I send a lot of letters, though, so the newer ones appeal to me for that.

What made you choose 1996 as your cut-off, if you don't mind my asking? I always like to learn about how people select the boundaries for their collections.

FitzjamesHorse - That's very interesting about your Frederick Douglass suggestion! It seems to pair very well with the two already mentioned. I didn't recall that Douglass had made it to Ireland.

I made a formal request probably back in early 2015 (here in the US it has to be done three years ahead of time) for a stamp to commemorate the May 15, 1918 beginning of the US Airmail service. I'm still hopeful that it will happen, though some think the 2013 $2 inverted Jenny stamp makes it unlikely. We'll see.

Basil

I haven't submitted a recommendation (ever), but your post has inspired me to create a campaign for an Autism Awareness stamp. In 1980, autism occurred in 1 in every 10,000 children. Today, it occurs in 1 in 68 (1 in 42 for boys, 1 in 189 for girls.) It has become a national epidemic that is largely ignored. The symbol for autism is a multi-colored puzzle piece. My son is autistic and epileptic. I believe it's time for a postage stamp to raise awareness, perhaps a semi-postal with proceeds going to nonprofit autism organizations.

@dearhenry
There is actually quite a lot about Douglass and Ireland on the Internet. He had published his narrative in USA and this increased pressure on him so he lived in Dublin an Liverpool from 1845-1847. This coincided with the start of the Irish Famine and this had a profound effect on him and many historians think that his subsequent writings are more universal in nature.
I have also submitted a proposal to honour the Choctaw (Native American) nation. Again a lot of information online about this connexion.

@dearhenry
I picked 1996 more or less randomly as that was as far as the pages in my Scott Int'l album (36 volumes) goes to. I have a few years past that but not sequential or collated in my set. My albums are sorted by country, not by year. As the new stamps got uglier, I lost interest. Most is worth less than face value. Some look more than children drew them. No intricate detail like the old stamps. Most stamps made are never intended to be postally used or less than 10% will get used. They will make a stamp for anything. If the president let a fart at the podium, they would make a stamp of it.

@blcjr
I will hope with you that they release an airmail commemorative. Airmail stamps are some of my favorites.

@Walkman82
What a nice idea about the semi-postal and what a great way to honor your son! Honestly, I'm surprised there has not been a stamp for this. I did a quick search and found an old change.org petition for that very same proposal (https://www.change.org/p/autism-awa...stamp-usps), so I'm sure you'll find support for the cause. Hope you'll keep us updated on your campaign!

@FitzjamesHorse
Thanks for the information. You have me intrigued and it's an area of history I regret to say I don't know enough about. I will plan to add some of his works to my wish list so I can learn more.

@jaxom100
I had a little laugh when I found out how practical and simple your reason was for the 1996 cut-off. I sometimes get intimidated by longtime collectors, as I know so very little about it (other than what I like) and am only now beginning to expand that knowledge. I had assumed there was some significant change after that year that any 'good' philatelist would know but would escape my notice. What are some of your favorite old stamps? I feel I need to review older ones and spend more time appreciating them even when they aren't so flashy as the modern ones.

dearhenry,

Thank you for the kind encouragement. I'm a member of many autism support groups and organizations, and a board director for an autism advocacy group supporting medical cannabis for autism. I plan to network with the thousands of other autism parents to encourage them to send letters as well. I mailed my letter today. I'll update the forum if and when I receive a response. Thanks again.

I am going to suggest Lucy Stone as a topic for a 2018 issue. She was born in 1818.

Boxcar Willie,

Too late to suggest anything for 2018. Submissions have to be made at least three years earlier.

Anyone have the address for that committee?

Don

I submitted a proposal for the Trans-Alaska Pipeline shortly after it was completed in 1977. They didn't accept my proposal, but they eventually showed the pipeline in the background on the 1984 Alaska statehood 25th anniversary stamp (Scott #2066).

Dr. Willem Johan Kolff, estimated to have saved over 1 million people. Invented the dialysis machine and refused to patent it; instead sharing his invention freely with hospitals and researchers all over the world. Born in Netherlands, he migrated to the US in the 1940s and lived in PA until he passed in 2009.

If saving over 1 million people does not rate having USPS honor them on a stamp, what does?

https://goscf.com/t/52988
Don