Golden Replicas of U.S. First Day of Issue Stamps

The game of basketball, which is depicted on this golden U. S. stamp, is an American invention. It was devised in 1891 by Dr. James Naismith, an instructor at the International Y.M.C.A. Training School in Springfield, Massachusetts. A soccer ball and two peach baskets fastened to a gymnasium balcony gave the game its start. Naismith sought to create a team sport that could be played indoors during the winter. Basketball was launched as a professional sport in 1898 with the organization of the National Basketball League. Basketball has become the most widely played and watched sport in the world.

This stamp was first issued by The Postal Commemorative Society on August 18, 1991. The stamp was designed by Lon Busch of Ellisville, Missouri.

You will receive an envelope that includes the gold stamp along with a canceled postage stamp. It addition, you will receive an information card with facts as to why this Commencement stamp was created.

A portion of the 16th century masterpiece “A Gentleman in Adoration before the Madonna” is reproduced on this golden U. S. stamp. It is the work of Giovanni Battista Moroni (c. 1525-1578), an Italian renaissance artist know for his portraits of tradesmen, aristocrats, and religious figures. Many of Moroni’s religious works can still be seen on the altars of churches in his hometown of Bergamo. Moroni’s portraits are notable for their candor and insight into the inner personality of the subject.

This stamp was first issued by The Postal Commemorative Society on October 23, 1987. The stamp was designed by Bradbury Thompson of Riverside, Connecticut.

You will receive an envelope that includes the gold stamp along with a canceled postage stamp. It addition, you will receive an information card with facts as to why this Commencement stamp was created.

This golden U. S. Christmas stamp features a portion of the 15th century masterpiece “Madonna and Child with Donor”. It is the work of Italian Renaissance painter Antoniazzo di Benedetto, known as Antoniazzo Romano (1440-1526). Antoniazzo was the first important artist born in Rome in more than a century. Many well-known artists strongly influenced Antoniazzo’s career. Nearly all of his paintings expand upon religious themes. Today, Antoniazzo’s work can be seen in cathedrals throughout Italy, the Pantheon, and Palazzo Venezia. They are also displayed in leading international museums.

This stamp was first issued by The Postal Commemorative Society on October 17, 1991. The stamp was designed by Bradbury Thompson of Riverside, Connecticut.

You will receive an envelope that includes the gold stamp along with a canceled postage stamp. It addition, you will receive an information card with facts as to why this Commencement stamp was created.

America’s Santa Claus, who is shown on this golden U. S. Christmas stamp, has gift-giving counterparts in almost all European nations. Some of his other names are Father Christmas (England), Père Noël (France), Weihnachtsmann (Germany), and St. Nicholas (Holland). Santa Claus came to America as St. Nicolas with the first Dutch settlers. In America, the Dutch traditions of St. Nicholas gradually mixed with those of other immigrant groups. Over the years, his name changed by popular pronunciation to Sinta Clas and then to Santa Claus.

This stamp was first issued by The Postal Commemorative Society on October 17, 1991. The stamp was designed by John Berkey of Minneapolis, Minnesota.

You will receive an envelope that includes the gold stamp along with a canceled postage stamp. It addition, you will receive an information card with facts as to why this Commencement stamp was created.

Near the top of toddlers “wish list” for Santa is a jack-in-a-box like the one featured on this contemporary golden U. S. Christmas stamp. One of the simplest and most enduring toys, it has delighted and amazed small children for countless generations. The name of the European toy maker who devised the first jack-in-the-box has been lost in history. It is known however, that the toy dates back at least as far as the 16th century. Jack-in-the-boxes were favorite playthings in Victorian England and 19th century America. They are simple wooden boxes with a latched lid.

This stamp was first issued by The Postal Commemorative Society on October 21, 1993. The stamp was designed by Peter Good of Chester, Connecticut.

You will receive an envelope that includes the gold stamp along with a canceled postage stamp. It addition, you will receive an information card with facts as to why this Commencement stamp was created.

This 1993 golden U. S. Christmas traditional stamp features a detail from a Madonna and Child painting and is displayed in the North Carolina Museum of Art. It is the work of Italian Renaissance master Giovanni Battista Cima (1459-1517). His manner of painting changed little over the years. It was fully developed from his earliest dated work, a 1489altarpiece created for San Bartolomeo in Vicenza. Cima is known for his use of landscape and airy, luminous colors. Key elements of his style are clearly evident in his Madonna and Child. His forms are smoothly finished and the painting’s overall mood is calm.

This stamp was first issued by The Postal Commemorative Society on October 21, 1993. 

You will receive an envelope that includes the gold stamp along with a canceled postage stamp. It addition, you will receive an information card with facts as to why this Commencement stamp was created.

Everyone knows “Santa Claus” sleigh is pulled by reindeer, like the one depicted on this golden U. S. stamp. On Christmas Eve, children listen eagerly for the sound of reindeer hooves landing on the rooftops of their homes. The description of Santa’s team of reindeer first appeared in A visit from St. Nicholas, Dr. Clement Moore’s famous 1822 Christmas poem.

This stamp was first issued by The Postal Commemorative Society on October 21, 1993. The stamp was designed by Peter Good of Chester, Connecticut.

You will receive an envelope that includes the gold stamp along with a canceled postage stamp. It addition, you will receive an information card with facts as to why this Commencement stamp was created.

A snowman, like the one depicted on this contemporary golden U. S. Christmas stamp, reinforces nostalgic recollections of America’s holiday season. It is the view portrayed in the art of Currier & Ives, Grandma Moses, Norman Rockwell, and others. The snowman has also become a familiar character in Christmas lore. In 1950 a song was written about one that came to life with the addition of a magical silk hat.

This stamp was first issued by The Postal Commemorative Society on October 21, 1993. The stamp was designed by Peter Good of Chester, Connecticut.

You will receive an envelope that includes the gold stamp along with a canceled postage stamp. It addition, you will receive an information card with facts as to why this Commencement stamp was created.

The toy soldier on this contemporary golden U. S. Christmas stamp marches into an imaginary fray carrying his trumpet. He evokes wonderful images of the holiday season, particularly of the classic Christmas-time ballet, The Nutcracker. The story takes place on Christmas Eve. Two children, Clara and Fritz, are given a very special nutcracker by a family friend, Herr Drosselmeyer. During the night, Clara wakes to find a full-scale battle in progress. The nutcracker is leading an army of toy soldiers against an army of mice.

This stamp was first issued by The Postal Commemorative Society on October 21, 1993. The stamp was designed by Peter Good of Chester, Connecticut.

You will receive an envelope that includes the gold stamp along with a canceled postage stamp. It addition, you will receive an information card with facts as to why this Commencement stamp was created.

The introduction of the “horseless wagon” to carry mail, which is depicted in this golden U. S. stamp, demonstrates the postal service’s willingness to experiment with promising inventions and innovations. As early as 1896, the U. S. Post Office Department began testing the new vehicles as a means of speedy delivery. One of the first regular automotive routes was at the 1901 Pan American Exposition, where cars delivered mail under contract. Since then, motor vehicles have revolutionized mail delivery at home and abroad. The United States operates the largest postal system in the world.

This stamp was first issued by The Postal Commemorative Society on November 19, 1989. The stamp was designed by Mark Hess of Katonah, New York.

You will receive an envelope that includes the gold stamp along with a canceled postage stamp. It addition, you will receive an information card with facts as to why this Commencement stamp was created.

As early as 1813, steamboats of the type pictured on this golden U. S. stamp were used to carry mail on America’s great rivers. Construction of boats, which were known as packets, was at first subsidized by the Postal Department. The implementation of packets was part of the search for faster, more efficient mail delivery that corresponded with the rapid expansion of America’s postal services. In 1789, the country only had 75 post offices. Forty years later, the number of facilities exceeded 8000. Steamboats often reduced the time-in-transit for mail from weeks to days.

This stamp was first issued by The Postal Commemorative Society on November 19, 1989. The stamp was designed by Mark Hess of Katonah, New York.

You will receive an envelope that includes the gold stamp along with a canceled postage stamp. It addition, you will receive an information card with facts as to why this Commencement stamp was created.

A Curtiss JN-4H, better known as the “Jenny” is pictured on this golden U. S. stamp; it was used for America’s first airmail fleet. The world’s first continuous regular airmail service was started by the u. S. Army pilots on May 15, 1918. It connected three major East Coast cities: New York, Philadelphia, and Washington, D. C. President Woodrow Wilson, the Postmaster General, and various other dignitaries gathered to watch the takeoff. Airmail developed rapidly, the Post Office took over the service in August 1918.

This stamp was first issued by The Postal Commemorative Society on November 19, 1989. The stamp was designed by Mark Hess of Katonah, New York.

You will receive an envelope that includes the gold stamp along with a canceled postage stamp. It addition, you will receive an information card with facts as to why this Commencement stamp was created.

This golden U. S. stamp commemorates the 500th anniversary of Columbus’ discovery of Puerto Rico. The explorer sighted the island early on November 19, 1493. After following its shoreline for much of the day, he and his men went ashore at Boqueron Bay in the southwest to fish and replenish their water supply. Early efforts to colonize were only minimally successful. In the late 16th century, the Spanish turned Puerto Rico into the most fortified area in the West Indies. Spanish rule ended when the island was ceded to the United States in the wake of the Spanish-American War.

This stamp was first issued by The Postal Commemorative Society on November 19, 1993. The stamp was designed by Richard Schlecht of Arlington, Virginia.

You will receive an envelope that includes the gold stamp along with a canceled postage stamp. It addition, you will receive an information card with facts as to why this Commencement stamp was created.

This golden U. S. stamp illustrates how “I love you” is communicated in American Sign Language (ASL). The fourth most commonly used language in the United States; ASL uses a systematic, organized group of gestures for spoken language. Signing grew out of the natural gestures the deaf have always used to communicate. Most of the signs in ASL represent words of word groups. The language has a distinct grammar, and the signs must be placed within sentences accordingly. For the most part, the only words that are spelled out using a manual finger alphabet are proper names and special terms.

This stamp was first issued by The Postal Commemorative Society on September 20, 1993. The stamp was designed by Chris Calle of Ridgefield, Connecticut.

You will receive an envelope that includes the gold stamp along with a canceled postage stamp. It addition, you will receive an information card with facts as to why this Commencement stamp was created.

The importance of recognizing deafness is emphasized on this golden U. S. stamp. It is particularly vital since defective hearing is the most common form of disability in the United States, affecting about 14 million Americans. There are two major types of hearing disorders. Conductive disorders result from interference with the transmission of sound through the ear. Sensorineural problems, on the other hand, involve a defect in the nerve leading from the inner ear to the brain. Recognizing the disability is the first step in breaking down the barrier between the hearing and non-hearing worlds.

This stamp was first issued by The Postal Commemorative Society on July 30, 1993. The stamp was designed by Chris Callie of Ridgefield, Connecticut.

You will receive an envelope that includes the gold stamp along with a canceled postage stamp. It addition, you will receive an information card with facts as to why this Commencement stamp was created.

Dr. Allison Davis (1902-1983), who is featured on this golden U. S. stamp, greatly influenced contemporary thought on valuing t6he capabilities of children with diverse backgrounds. He was one of the most respected social anthropologists, psychologists, and professors of his day. As a social scientist, Davis was one of the pioneers in the study of the black experience in America. He fought for understanding human potential in all races and challenged intelligence testing as being culturally biased.

This stamp was first issued by The Postal Commemorative Society on February 1, 1994. The stamp was designed by Chris Calle of Ridgefield, Connecticut.

You will receive an envelope that includes the gold stamp along with a canceled postage stamp. It addition, you will receive an information card with facts as to why this Commencement stamp was created.

More than any other man, Edward R. Murrow (1908-1965), who is honored on this golden U. S. stamp, influenced the way news is presented. His crisp and accurate reporting set the standard that broadcast journalist seek to emulate. Long before they knew his face, Americans knew Murrow’s voice. As a CBS network’s one-man news staff in Europe in the mid-1930s, he chronicled Hitler’s rise to power and the onset of World War II on radio. The opening phrase of his broadcast, “This is London”, became famous.

This stamp was first issued by The Postal Commemorative Society on January 21, 1994. The stamp was designed by Chris Calle of Ridgefield, Connecticut.

You will receive an envelope that includes the gold stamp along with a canceled postage stamp. It addition, you will receive an information card with facts as to why this Commencement stamp was created.

The hyacinth, which is pictured on this golden U. S. stamp, is one of the most popular and glorious garden ornamental. A native of the Mediterranean region and tropical Africa, it came to America via Europe, where it was introduced in the 16th century. Grown from bulbs planted in the fall, the bell-shaped flowers appear in early spring. They are borne in clusters and appear in a dazzling variety of colors. In addition to the original whites and blues, they can be found in multiple colors. The plants stand between 6 and 18 inches high and have narrow untoothed leaves growing from the base.

This stamp was first issued by The Postal Commemorative Society on May 15, 1993. The stamp was designed by Ned Seidler of Hampton Bay, New York.

You will receive an envelope that includes the gold stamp along with a canceled postage stamp. It addition, you will receive an information card with facts as to why this Commencement stamp was created.

Georgia's admission to the Union, celebrated on this golden U. S. stamp took place on January 2, 1788. It was the first such action by a southern state. The Georgia colony was barely 50 years old at the time of the Revolution. Statehood coincided with growing prosperity for Georgia, based largely on the planting of cotton. Georgia is the largest state east of the Mississippi, the 21st of all 50 states in area, and the 15th in population. Since it was rebuilt after the Civil War, the capitol of Atlanta has emerged as the principal center of transportation, commerce, and finance in the Southeast.

This stamp was first issued by The Postal Commemorative Society on January 6, 1988. The stamp was designed by Greg Harlin of Annapolis, Maryland.

You will receive an envelope that includes the gold stamp along with a canceled postage stamp. It addition, you will receive an information card with facts as to why this Commencement stamp was created.

The Chinese New Year, which is celebrated on this golden U. S. stamp, is determined by an ancient calendar. In 1994, the festivities began on February 11, the official start of New Year 4692. Tradition assigns each Chinese year to one of 12 animal signs of Chinese Zodiac. This is the “year of the dog”, corresponding with the eleventh year of the of the 12 year cycle. Other years honor the rat, ox, tiger, hare, dragon, serpent, horse, ram, monkey, fowl, and the boar. Along with being one of the world’s oldest festivals, Chinese New Year is also one of the most colorful.

This stamp was first issued by The Postal Commemorative Society on February 5, 1994. The stamp was designed by Clarence Lee of Honolulu, Hawaii.

You will receive an envelope that includes the gold stamp along with a canceled postage stamp. It addition, you will receive an information card with facts as to why this Commencement stamp was created.