BEP Produces Its Last U.S. Stamp
On June 10, 2005, the Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP) printed its last US stamp. The Bureau first began printing US postage stamps in 1894 and for 75 years, printed nearly all US stamps.
Postal History
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End of the Pacific ’97 Stamp Show
On June 8, 1997, the ninth US stamp show came to an end. Pacific ’97 was the first IPEX (International Philatelic Exhibition) held on the West Coast.
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Heroes of 2001 Semipostal
On June 7, 2002, the USPS issued the Heroes of 2001 Semipostal stamp to honor emergency workers who responded to the September 11 attacks. The stamp turned ordinary mail into a small act of support for families who had lost loved ones or whose loved ones had been permanently disabled in the line of duty.
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U.S. Issues Its Only Certified Mail Stamp
On June 6, 1955, the US Post Office issued its first and only Certified Mail Stamp, US #FA1. The stamp gave mail special protection and provided the sender with proof of delivery.
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First Commissioned Female Airmail Pilot
On May 23, 1918, Katherine Stinson became the first woman hired by the post office to deliver airmail in the US. She had several other notable firsts and records in her short flying career.
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Butterfly Series
On May 17, 2010, the USPS issued the first stamp in the Butterfly Series. The stamps were created for use on envelopes that couldn’t be sorted on the USPS’s automated equipment, otherwise known as “nonmachinable.” They’re often used for greeting cards.
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First US Aerogram
On April 29, 1947, the United States issued its first aerogram, then called an air letter sheet. It was a simple folded sheet of paper, but it offered Americans a cheaper and faster way to send personal messages overseas in the growing age of air travel.
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Service Indicator Stamps
On April 23, 1976, the USPS issued the first regular postage stamp to include a service indicator. While most Americans would never use it or notice it, the 7.9-cent Drum coil stamp quietly solved a problem that had complicated bulk mailing for decades.
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Charles Lindbergh, Airmail Pilot
On April 15, 1926, Charles Lindbergh made his first airmail flight, launching a new contract route between Chicago and St. Louis. Just over a year later, that same young pilot would become world famous—but on this morning, he was focused on carrying the mail safely and on schedule.
