The UK is getting special PEANUTS stamps
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Chris Ware wasn't at his stamp release event, but I was. I took the day off because I had never been to one of these ceremonies before. This was held at the US Post Office headquarters in L'Enfant Plaza, or actually on the sidewalk outside it.
I seriously underestimated the crowd the event would draw, and ended up parking under the Spy Museum / Hilton for $18/hour. The whole area is one of those 1960s urban renewal plans that destroyed perfectly good neighborhoods for brutalist monstrosities. This was a big deal launch because it's the 250th anniversary of the postal service and these were the stamps commemorating that.
After some musical entertainment including a man singing Elvis' "Return to Sender" and a fiddle player, and an excellent version of the Star Spangled Banner by a PO employee, Ben Franklin took the stage.
In addition to Ware's stamp sheet, a new stamp of Franklin as the first Postmaster General was launched. Speakers included Amber McReynolds, USPS Board of Governors chairwoman, who writes history on women and voting...
the new Postmaster General and Chief Executive Officer David Steiner...
and then they 'unveiled' both stamps, not that they were a surprise to anyone in the crowd...
...and then Ben Franklin wrapped it up and people got on line to buy stamps and get first day cancellations. Before and during the event, USPS staff were handing out the official programs for both stamps, and pins of each. Below is the Ware one, which was designed by Antonio Alcalá, whom I've previously interviewed here.
...they were generous with them too, so outside of DC, the Billy Ireland Library at OSU will soon have a set.
These hard-working ladies were cancelling stamps at speed but with precision for the crowd...
And in surprising news, the PO is planning on reissuing a stamp by voting popularity. Out of the 20 shown, 11 are cartoon stamps including Disney, Pixar, DC, and Peanuts, but not Marvel.
Special Stamp Re-Issue
Charlie Brown, Snoopy and the gang are back – this time with a delightful British twist. To mark the 75th anniversary of the beloved Peanuts comic strip, Royal Mail has unveiled a charming new set of stamps. Expect postboxes, seaside sandcastles, and even Buckingham Palace cameos.