# 889-93 - 1940 American Inventors, collection of 5 stamps
Is Your Famous Americans Series Missing the American Inventors?
American Inventors:
Eli Whitney (1765-1825) – invented the cotton gin, one of the most significant inventions of the industrial revolution that benefited the South’s economy immensely.
Samuel Morse (1791-1872) – invented the telegraph and Morse code, which allowed people to send messages long distances through a wire
Cyrus McCormick (1809-1884) – invented a reaping machine that made harvesting crops much easier for farmers
Elias Howe (1819-67) – perfected a sewing machine that could sew 250 lock stitches per minute
Alexander Graham Bell (1847-1922) – invented the metal detector, phonograph and telephone
Famous Americans Series Begins
In 1938, the Post Office Department announced plans for a series of stamps recognizing 10 famous Americans and invited the public to submit recommendations. The response was so great that it was decided to increase the number from 10 to 35. This required an unexpected level of organization by the Post Office Department for this series.
Seven categories were decided upon – authors, poets, educators, scientists, composers, artists, and inventors. Each category of five has the same set of denominations – 1¢, 2¢, 3¢, 5¢, and 10¢. And each rate had a valid use. The 1¢ stamp paid for a letter that was dropped off at a post office to someone who had a box at the same office. The 2¢ was for local delivery. The 3¢ paid the normal non-local mail rate, and the 5¢ and 10¢ were used in combination for heavier letters and special rates. The denominations also shared a consistent coloring scheme: 1¢ is bright blue-green; 2¢ is rose carmine; 3¢ is bright red violet; 5¢ is ultramarine; and 10¢ is dark brown.
The first two stamps honoring Washington Irving and James Fenimore Cooper were issued on January 29, 1940. Subsequent stamps in the series were issued every few weeks until the final stamp, honoring Alexander Graham Bell, was issued on October 28.
Click here to get the complete set and save. Or click here for individual stamps (and covers).
Or get the Famous Americans by category:
Is Your Famous Americans Series Missing the American Inventors?
American Inventors:
Eli Whitney (1765-1825) – invented the cotton gin, one of the most significant inventions of the industrial revolution that benefited the South’s economy immensely.
Samuel Morse (1791-1872) – invented the telegraph and Morse code, which allowed people to send messages long distances through a wire
Cyrus McCormick (1809-1884) – invented a reaping machine that made harvesting crops much easier for farmers
Elias Howe (1819-67) – perfected a sewing machine that could sew 250 lock stitches per minute
Alexander Graham Bell (1847-1922) – invented the metal detector, phonograph and telephone
Famous Americans Series Begins
In 1938, the Post Office Department announced plans for a series of stamps recognizing 10 famous Americans and invited the public to submit recommendations. The response was so great that it was decided to increase the number from 10 to 35. This required an unexpected level of organization by the Post Office Department for this series.
Seven categories were decided upon – authors, poets, educators, scientists, composers, artists, and inventors. Each category of five has the same set of denominations – 1¢, 2¢, 3¢, 5¢, and 10¢. And each rate had a valid use. The 1¢ stamp paid for a letter that was dropped off at a post office to someone who had a box at the same office. The 2¢ was for local delivery. The 3¢ paid the normal non-local mail rate, and the 5¢ and 10¢ were used in combination for heavier letters and special rates. The denominations also shared a consistent coloring scheme: 1¢ is bright blue-green; 2¢ is rose carmine; 3¢ is bright red violet; 5¢ is ultramarine; and 10¢ is dark brown.
The first two stamps honoring Washington Irving and James Fenimore Cooper were issued on January 29, 1940. Subsequent stamps in the series were issued every few weeks until the final stamp, honoring Alexander Graham Bell, was issued on October 28.
Click here to get the complete set and save. Or click here for individual stamps (and covers).
Or get the Famous Americans by category: