U.S. #2438
1989 25¢ Traditional Mail Delivery
20th UPU Congress Souvenir Sheet
- Issued for the 20th Universal Postal Union, first in the US in 92 years
- Pictures four traditional methods of mail delivery
- Also issued as part of World Stamp Expo ’89
Stamp Category: Commemorative
Value: 25¢, first-class rate
First Day of Issue: November 29, 1989
First Day City: Washington, DC
Quantity Issued: 2,047,200
Printed by: Bureau of Engraving and Printing
Printing Method: Lithographed & engraved
Format: Souvenir sheets of four stamps in sheets of 16
Perforations: Imperforate
Why the stamps were issued: The souvenir sheet of four Traditional Mail Delivery stamps was issued to commemorate the United States’ hosting of the 20th Universal Postal Union Congress. It was the first time the US hosted the UPU in 92 years. The stamp issue, and the congress, also coincided with World Stamp Expo ’89. A block of four stamps bearing the same designs (#2434-37) was issued nine days earlier.
About the stamp designs: First-time stamp artist Mark Hess was hired to illustrate the Classic Mail Transportation Block. He worked from a variety of sources, including photos from the National Philatelic Collection at the Smithsonian. After completing his first drafts, he shared them with the curator of the National Philatelic Collection, who offered several suggestions to help make his designs more accurate. The stamps picture:
Stagecoach – Hess’ stagecoach image underwent the fewest changes. It depicts a Concord coach, named for the city in New Hampshire where they were made.
Steamboat – The design that required the most work was the ship stamp. Initially, Hess pictured a naval ship off-shore with a rowboat collecting mail for delivery to the ship. The image had some inaccuracies, and it was ultimately decided that a steamboat on an inland river better represented that form of mail delivery. The steamboat on which the stamp image was based is the 19th century packet Chesapeake. The stamp also shows a man with a handcart bringing mail to the boat, which he had seen on one the Smithsonian pictures.
Curtiss JN-4H (Jenny) bi-plane – Hess’ original sketch of the Curtiss Jenny showed two open cockpits. But he corrected it to show that one of the cockpits had been replaced with a mail compartment.
Early automobile – Hess based his image of an automobile delivering mail on a photo from the USPS archives. It pictures a 1906 Columbia automobile on the streets of Baltimore.
Special design details: Some of the transportation methods on these stamps had appeared on stamps before. The Jenny had appeared on America’s first Airmails (#C1-3), and the Jenny and the stagecoach were included in a block of four stamps honoring the 200th anniversary of America’s independent postal service (#1572-75). Plus, the automobile in this block is very similar to the one pictured on a 1912 15¢ Parcel Post stamp (#Q7).
First Day City: The First Day Ceremony for the Classic Mail Transportation souvenir sheet was held was held the Washington Convention Center in Washington, DC, as part of the 20th Universal Postal Union Congress and World Stamp Expo ’89. Each day of the expo had a theme, and this day’s theme was Transportation Day.
Unusual fact about these stamps: A very small number of souvenir sheets have been found with the dark blue and gray graving omitted. That makes up the title across the top of the sheet as well as the denomination and “USA” on each stamp.
About the Traditional Mail Delivery Stamps: Early on, USPS officials decided that the stamps honoring the UPU Congress would feature mail delivery methods. Initially, art director Richard Sheaff mocked up a block of nine stamps showing delivery methods from around the world. After significant discussion, they decided that the stamps would only picture US mail delivery methods. They also decided to create two separate blocks depicting past delivery methods and future delivery methods (block of four – #C122-25 and souvenir sheet – #C126).
History these stamps represent: On October 9, 1874, some 22 nations met in Bern, Switzerland to form the General Postal Union (later renamed the Universal Postal Union or UPU).
In 1863, Abraham Lincoln’s Postmaster General Montgomery Blair suggested an international conference be held to discuss common postal problems. A conference was held in Paris, and fifteen nations attempted to establish guidelines for an international postal service. Until this time, mail had been regulated by a number of different agreements that were binding only to signing members.
Although Blair did not intend to create a permanent organization, another conference was held 11 years later in Bern, Switzerland. On October 9, 1874, twenty-two nations, comprising the International Postal congress, drafted and signed the Bern Treaty, which established the General Postal Union. The basic ideals were that there should be a uniform rate to mail a letter anywhere in the world, that domestic and international mail should be treated equally, and that each country should keep all money collected for international postage. It also made sending international mail easier in another important way. Previously, people had to attach a stamp from each country their mail would pass through. This no longer was necessary.
Under this treaty, member nations, including parts of Europe, Britain, and the United States, standardized postal rates and units of weight. They also set forth procedures for transporting ordinary mail. Ordinary mail included letters, postcards, and small packages. Separate rules govern the transportation of items, such as parcel post, newspapers, magazines, and money orders.
Under this agreement, known as the International Postal Convention, a simpler accounting system was devised as well. Previously, countries could vary the international rate. Any mail traveling across a country’s border was charged this rate. In addition, many countries charged a one-cent surtax for mail being transported by sea for more than 300 miles.
Using the basic idea that every letter generates a reply, the Convention allowed each country to keep the postage it collected on international mail. However, that country would then reimburse other members for transporting mail across their borders. The benefits to member nations included lower postal rates, better service, and a more efficient accounting system.
At the 1878 conference, the name was changed to the Universal Postal Union. It wasn’t until the 1880s that the organization became truly universal. By the 1890s, nearly every nation had become a member.
In 1898, the Universal Postal Union standardized the colors of certain stamps in order to make international mailing easier and more efficient. They proposed that member nations use the same colors for stamps of the same value. In order to conform to the UPU’s regulations, the 1¢, 2¢, and 5¢ stamps underwent color changes. Later that same year, the 4¢, 6¢, 10¢, and 15¢ stamps were changed to avoid confusion with current issues printed in similar colors.
In 1947, the UPU became a specialized agency of the United Nations with its headquarters is located in Berne, the capital of Switzerland. The UPU holds conventions every five years. Today, it continues to organize and improve postal service throughout the world with 190 member states. It’s the oldest international organization existing and claims to be the only one that really works.
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