United States Post Office

Displaying the Dead at the 1893 World’s Fair
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Displaying the Dead at the 1893 World’s Fair

HISTORY

Displaying the Dead at the 1893 World’s Fair

The U.S. Government Building at the 1893 World’s Fair housed exhibits from the official host of the Exposition. A display from one federal agency was described as “the grotesque mingling with the horrible, and tender sentiment jostling with the ghastly evidences of tragedies.” [Image from Harper’s Weekly August 26, 1893.] Many visitors to the U.S. Government Building at 1893 World’s Fair claimed that one display from a federal agency was the most interesting exhibit. More engaging than the [...]

By Scott|2025-07-19T08:41:15-05:00July 26th, 2025|Categories: HISTORY|Tags: U.S. Government Building, United States Post Office|0 Comments

1893 USPS Columbian Stamps Take a Licking
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1893 USPS Columbian Stamps Take a Licking

REPRINTS

1893 USPS Columbian Stamps Take a Licking

On January 2, 1893, the United States Postal Service released the first “commemorative” stamps in its history. Postmaster General John Wanamaker contracted the American Bank Note Company to produce the set of sixteen “Columbian” stamps, having denominations ranging from 1 cent to $5 and a total face value of $16.34. The souvenir set depicts various scenes of Christopher Columbus’ 1492 voyage and tied into the upcoming World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago. To properly illustrate the subjects, the stamp design [...]

By Scott|2025-01-14T17:11:11-06:00January 2nd, 2025|Categories: REPRINTS|Tags: John Wanamaker, stamps, United States Post Office|0 Comments

1893 World’s Fair Commemorative Postage Stamps and the (Alleged) Death of Stamp Collecting
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1893 World’s Fair Commemorative Postage Stamps and the (Alleged) Death of Stamp Collecting

ANTIQUES

1893 World’s Fair Commemorative Postage Stamps and the (Alleged) Death of Stamp Collecting

"The report of my death was an exaggeration.” -- Mark Twain (June 2, 1897) In his July 23, 2018, “U.S. Stamp Notes” column at Linn’s Stamp News, John M. Hotchner describes the birth of World’s Fair philately at the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition. His article “World’s fair philately: 19th and early 20th centuries” explains how the set of 16 commemorative postage stamps, which at the time cost $16.34 (roughly $444 in 2018 dollars) “caused the philatelic press of the time [...]

By Scott|2018-08-05T17:53:32-05:00August 10th, 2018|Categories: ANTIQUES|Tags: stamps, United States Post Office|0 Comments

Columbian Exposition Stamp Collecting … and Complaints
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Columbian Exposition Stamp Collecting … and Complaints

ANTIQUES, REPRINTS

Columbian Exposition Stamp Collecting … and Complaints

Of the many “firsts” associated with the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition, the issuing of the first commemorative postage stamps by the United States Post Office became philatelic history. The set of sixteen stamps are among the most sought-after by collectors of stamps and Columbiana. In the winter of 1892, Postmaster-General John Wanamaker reported on the Columbian series: The introduction of the Columbian series of postage stamps will contribute in a marked way to the great recognition given by the [...]

By Scott|2018-06-10T10:39:42-05:00June 10th, 2018|Categories: ANTIQUES, REPRINTS|Tags: John Wanamaker, stamps, U.S. Government Building, United States Post Office|2 Comments