COVER N.96 - USA

Postmark: No postmark, 
Posted probably on the 3rd April; received on the 12th April 2022
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I have to say I was completely awed by this cover I got from Rosanne, an American postcrosser that really went the extra ten miles to send me  not only a nice postcard (#73) bus also an amazing envelope full of very interesting vintage stamps, no less than nine. Thank you so much Rosanne, you're too kind!

I have heard that American bank notes do not come out of circulation ever. I'm not sure if this is true or not but if that is the case, then the same must be applicable to stamps, judging from the amazing specimens Rosanne used to send me her outstanding letter.

in these days of computer generated graphics and cheap multicolour printing, one tends to forget that it was not always like that and being able to admire these lovely stamps of  last century's 40s  vintage can only foster respect and admiration for the artists involved in their creation.

 

Stamps left to right, top to bottom:

4  Cent stamp issued on 26AUG1959, drawing attention to the theme of soil conservation, with the three colour illustration highlighting the contribution of natural and introduced  elements to soil erosion, namely rain, wind, coastal water but also cities and farming.

15 Cent stamp, part of a four same face value stamp set issued on 28SEP1979, celebrating the 1980 summer Olympics. Further to swimming  as illustrated by the stamp on my cover, the set has stamps  illustrated with images of the Olympic disciplines of running, rowing and equestrian.

Ironically, the 1980 Olympics held in Moscow were marked by the absence of the delegations of several countries, following the call for boycott issued by the United States, which, of course, did not participate either, as a response to the Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan....

History goes full circle, they say, don't they?

8 cent stamp, issued on 16FEB1973, dedicated to the then on going bicentennial celebrations, which would reach their apex on the 4th of July 1976, the 200th anniversary of the signing of the American declaration of Independence. The illustration in the stamp shows a group of patriots working on pamphlet printing with the legend "Rise of the Spirit of Independence"

The most recent stamp on this particular cover was issued on 09MAR2021, and it is a surcharge stamp for "non-machinable" mail, i.e, mail that has to be sorted outside of the normal mail process, according to the USPS. I had never seen one before, neither was I familiar with this concept. 

Depicting a Colorado Hairstreak (Hypaurotis crysalus), the official insect of the State, and the sole species in the genus Hypaurotis of the Lycaenidae family, this beautiful butterfly illustrates the stamp that is part of a long running "Butterfly" stamp series started in 2010.

A true classic: 3 Cent stamp issued on 03MAR1949 to celebrate the Minnesota territorial Centennial 1849-1949, according to the legend in the stamp that is illustrated by the image of a "red river ox cart".

In 1947, the State of Minnesota appointed the Minnesota Historical Society as the body charged with the organisation of the celebrations of the Territorial Centennial. 

In the words of  Julius M. Nolte, dean and professor of the General Extension Division of the University of Minnesota, who was appointed director of the Centennial  "The plan for this Centennial commemorative program gives an opportunity to Minnesotans collectively to look back and take stock, to consider this state that they have built, to measure what has been accomplished and how, and, most important of all, to determine in what direction they are headed". What I believe to be maybe a (rather interesting) presentation speech to his society peers laying the objectives for the celebrations can be found here. In it, mention is made to the issuance of this particular stamp within the framework of the celebrations. 

Another classic and the oldest stamp on my cover: 3 Cent Stamp issued on 19NOV1948, on the 85th anniversary of Lincoln’s most famous speech, delivered for the  dedication of the Gettysburg Civil War Cemetery on November 19, 1863.

I confess my ignorance and the fact that I had never heard about this speech, but after reading it, I can perfectely understand why it rose to its landmark status... here we go again, learning from stamps.... joy, oh joy....

The internet is a priceless information warehouse, it is well known, but I am always amazed as to where one can find what one is looking for.....

I could go and write on this particular stamp but why paraphrase when you couldn't put it better, for this next 4 Cent stamp issued on 31AUG1962? so I will just quote form the  Journal of Hand Surgery site (of all places....): "On August 31, 1962, United States issued this commemorative stamp to mark the twenty-fifth anniversary of the National Apprenticeship Act (“Fitzgerald Act”) and honor the National Apprenticeship Training Program. This stamp depicts an elder's hand offering a micrometer (the instrument of the journeyman machinist) to an outstretched young hand, which symbolizes the transfer of skill witnessed through apprenticeship".

Another truly beautiful single colour intaglio printed stamp with a face value of 3C, issued on 30DEC1953.

Quoting from the Smithsonian National Postal Museum site: the stamp " commemorates the centenary of diplomat James Gadsden’s purchase of territory from Mexico for the United States in 1853. Gadsden’s purchase, which included land from present day Arizona and New Mexico, was the last major territorial acquisition in the contiguous United States. The land was important for the development of the Southern Pacific Railroad, a transcontinental route. The stamp features an image of a map of the territory and a pioneer group traveling through the desert."

2 Cent stamp, dedicated to Navajo Jewellery. The original stamp was issued on 20AUG2004, but the one on my cover is a variant issued on 08DEC2005.

Unfortunately, again the stamps were not cancelled and I wonder if the "non-machinable" surcharge had something to do with it? could it be? does anyone know?