As the 20th century approached, Paris was preparing to host a world’s fair in 1900. Responding to public demand, French postal authorities decided to replace the long-running Sage series that featured allegories of Peace and Commerce. A committee selected three designs by French artists, one each for low, middle, and high values. All of the stamps were printed by typography.

Many are aware of the Pony Express and Wells Fargo Express, but there are less well-known express firms that operated in the South after the Civil War.

The United States stamp market continues at a slow, steady pace, resulting in few changes in Volume 1 of the Scott Standard catalog. Increases found in Confederate States of America.

With the April 18 issue of Linn’s Stamp News monthly magazine comes a special preview of the eight-day international show to take place May 28-June 4 at the Javits Center in New York City.

As we prepare for the biggest stamp hobby event of the decade, World Stamp Show-NY 2016 that opens at the end of next month, please accompany me on my journey down memory lane as I revisit previous North American international shows I have attended. Although I had collected stamps since I was 11 years old in 1953, Ameripex 86 in Chicago was my first.

The remarkable classic Switzerland collection belonging to American collector and award-winning exhibitor William H. Gross will be auctioned by Siegel International during the upcoming World Stamp Show-NY 2016.

Also this week, readers enjoyed posts about the vintage Curtiss Jenny biplane that will make a surprise appearance at World Stamp Show-NY 2016, Canada's square circle postmark, and the late Garry Shandling's interest in stamp collecting.

Czechoslovakia’s final stamp issues of 1938, Scott 253-254, celebrated the nation’s 20th anniversary of independence from the Austro-Hungarian empire.

In many parts of the world, early spring is associated with rain. According to an old English folk rhyme, “March winds and April showers bring forth May flowers.” When it comes to postage stamps, though, you can find rain year-round.

How many experts does it take to reach a valid conclusion about any given patient? One expertizing service trumpets as a positive that it requires that three experts examine every patient (a stamp or cover submitted for authentication). In my view, this is an appropriate standard for many, maybe even most, patients, but excessive for others.

Several new stamps, including a set celebrating America's national parks, will be issued during the upcoming World Stamp Show-NY 2016.

After that grueling day in the legislature, Aug. 24, 1848, with the authorizing law for postal reform fully in place and with the approval of the stamp design by the cabinet, France’s Postmaster General Etienne Arago set out to work assiduously towards dissemination of new postal regulations and the production of the necessary stamps.

Mystic Stamp Company is bringing the fun of stamp collecting and history to mobile devices. “The This Day in History app is building on the success and popularity of our This Day in History emails,” Mystic president Donald Sundman said. And best of all, it’s free.

An important figure in the development of classical music, Joseph Haydn was born in Rohrau, Austria, in 1732, and became renowned throughout Europe during his lifetime.

His paintings have appeared on stamps all over the world, but during his lifetime, Vincent van Gogh was little known, struggling with physical and mental illness as he created what are today celebrated as masterpieces.

“I have never before seen so many die proofs in one go.” So commented Frank Walton, President of The Royal Philatelic Society London, when introducing to the Society the display of The Dutch Antilles in The West Indies.

33-year United States Postal Service carrier Patrick Barton received the National Safety Council’s Million Mile Club award last week after reaching the milestone without a single preventable accident on his record.

Legendary pitcher Denton True "Cy" Young threw three no-hitters, including a perfect game, during a career that included 511 victories and a World Series title.

The son of an Anglican priest, Thomas Clarkson devoted his life to abolishing slavery and the slave trade in the British Empire and throughout the world.

Composer and arranger Ferde Grofe achieved fame with his arrangement of Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue, and his own Grand Canyon Suite.