Postal Updates

Grateful Dead fans stuff California P.O. box: Morning Report

May 1, 2021, 12 PM

Linn's Stamp News gives you a quick look at what's going on in the world of stamp-collecting.

1. Dead-head mail

The Grateful Dead's recent announcement that it will put on three shows this summer to mark the band's 50th anniversary lead to a full post office box in northern California, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal.

Fans of the legendary jam band chose to mail their ticket requests to the Dead's ticket service instead of booking online. 

"Since the shows were announced a month ago more than 60,000 envelopes—many painstakingly adorned with the Dead’s typical psychedelic skulls and skeletons—have poured into a post office box in this picturesque Marin County spot a half-hour from the Golden Gate Bridge," the Journal reports. "The post office usually receives 7,000 letters a week."

2. Power outage

A computer problem at the U.S. Postal Service affected post office locations and shut off e-mails for about two days. The outage "mostly affected" administrative programs such as Internet access and e-mail programs, the USPS said in a statement.       

3. Golden anniversary

Jim Linker, proprietor of Link Stamp Co. in Columbus, Ohio, marked 50 years as a stamp dealer Jan. 1.

4. Yesterday's most-viewed post

35 rare 5c China Imperial Dragons found in attic in UK 

5. Being social