# 2410 - 1989 25c World Stamp Expo '89

U.S. #2410
1989 25¢ World Stamp Expo '89

• First stamp issued to promote World Stamp Expo ‘89
• “Stamp-on-stamp” design pictures classic 1869 90¢ Lincoln from the Pictorial Series (US #122) 

Stamp Category:  Commemorative
Value:  25¢, first-class rate
First Day of Issue:  March 16, 1989
First Day City:  New York City, New York
Quantity Issued:  103,835,000
Printed by:  Bureau of Engraving and Printing
Printing Method:  Lithographed and engraved
Format:  Panes of 50 in sheets of 200
Perforations:  11

Why the stamp was issued:  To promote World Stamp Expo ’89, which opened on November 17.  The stamp had first been unveiled at the American Philatelic Society’s Stampshow in Detroit, Michigan, on August 21, 1988. 

About the stamp design:  Design coordinator for the Citizens’ Stamp Advisory Committee Richard D. Sheaff served as art director, designer, and typographer for this stamp.  As had been popular in the past, the USPS opted for a stamp-on-stamp design to promote the exposition.  They selected the 1869 90¢ Lincoln stamp from the Pictorial series.  This stamp was selected, in part, because it was Lincoln’s postmaster general, Montgomery Blair, who had put out the call for an international postal conference in 1863, which eventually led to the creation of the Universal Postal Union (UPU).  The UPU was holding its 20^th Congress the month after World Stamp Expo.

The stamp is pictured slightly smaller than actual size.  And at Sheaff’s suggestion, a black facsimile “multiple crossroads” type cancellation was added to the stamp image to prevent the Lincoln stamp from being detached and used to pay 90¢ in postage.  

Special design details:  The stamp pictured on this stamp, US #122, is from the 1869 Pictorials.  It was the highest-denominated stamp issued up to that time, most often used on heavier mail sent internationally.  This stamp, along with the other three high values in the set, were the first bi-color US postage stamps.  The image of Lincoln was taken from an 1861 photograph by C.S. German; the original ornamental frame was designed by E. pitcher. 

First Day City:  The First Day ceremony for this stamp was held at another stamp show, Interpex ’89 at Madison Square Garden, in New York City, New York. 

History the stamp represents:  On November 17, 1989, World Stamp Show ’89 opened its doors and held 11 first-day ceremonies to mark the exposition.

The 1989 World Stamp Show marked a significant first.  It was the first international stamp show ever sponsored by the US Postal Service.

The show began at 9:45 am on November 17, 1989, when Vice President Dan Quayle joined in the official opening ceremonies at the Washington Convention Center.  One of the most memorable stamp issues from the show was issued on opening day.  That was US #2433.  It was issued imperforate, making it the first imperforate souvenir sheet since the SIPEX sheet of 1966.

The sheet featured four individual stamps – a reproduction of the original 90¢ Abraham Lincoln stamp of 1869 and three trial color proof combinations, which had been issued for the International Cotton Exposition in 1881.  Held in Atlanta, Georgia, October 5 to December 31, 1881, this exposition was the first world’s fair to be held in the South.

The 1989 souvenir sheet was available to collectors only through USPS philatelic centers and by mail order, and was valid for postage, as was each of the four individual stamps.  Unfortunately, many postal clerks were unaware of this and were rejecting the stamps as invalid for postage.  One confused clerk told a patron, “These are only pictures of stamps.”  Of course, customers who had paid $3.60 – the highest value on a souvenir sheet at that time – were none too pleased to hear that their stamps weren’t “real.”

World Stamp Show ’89 saw several other interesting new issues.  The US issued a holographic envelope and the Soviet Union issued a sheet of stamps honoring American and Soviet space accomplishments.  A total of 16 other countries issued stamps at the show, including St. Vincent, whose stamps pictured Disney characters at various American tourist sites.

The show also boasted a number of celebrity visitors, including Buzz Aldrin, who was part of the ceremonies of new space stamps, Olympic gold medalist Carl Lewis, aviation pioneers Dick Rutan and Jeana Yeager, and many others.  Children got in to the show for free and there was a special dinosaur youth area celebrating the issue of new dinosaur stamps a month earlier.

Each day of the show had a special theme.  These included Lincoln, Education, Old West (the USPS issued their classic mail transportation stamps this day), Universal Postal Union, Space, International, Dinosaurs, Aviation, Transportation, America the Beautiful, Olympics, and Stamp Designers.  The Universal Postal Union held its 20th Congress during the show and many stamp issues were related to this event.

There were special presentations, such as the Post Office of the Future, a video about express mail rockets delivering mail to other planets in 2089.  The Smithsonian had several valuable stamps on display and collectors could buy stamps from 132 foreign countries.

World Stamp Show ’89 ran for 14 days over a 17-day period, until December 3.