I was surprised to see the 1948 3¢ Indian Centennial stamp (Scott 972) pictured on the 1951 Oklahoma Philatelic Society convention label shown nearby. Why? Because there was a long-term ban on reproducing United States stamps in such a way as to facilitate the use of such illustrations for genuine postage. Indeed, there was a total ban on showing printed images of U.S. stamps for 66 years, from 1872 to 1938.

Great Britain’s Royal Mail has introduced yet another security feature for its definitive stamps: an overprint on the backing paper. The overprint reads “ROYAL MAIL” in all capital letters in two sizes and is printed in a diagonal pattern across the backing paper of self-adhesive stamps. The overprint is showing on the backing paper on the right of the nondenominated second-class blue stamp pictured nearby.

On Feb. 14, 1977, Mexico issued a 1.60-peso Mankind Destroyed by Nuclear Power airmail stamp (Scott C533). The stamp commemorates the 10th anniversary of the Agreement of Tlatelolco banning nuclear weapons in Latin America. The striking stamp design features Da Vinci’s Vitruvian Man shown as a skeleton against the background of a nuclear explosion.

On Nov. 17, 1961, the United States issued an 8¢ Gen. John J. Pershing definitive stamp (Scott 1214). For many years before being assigned its present number, this stamp was listed in the Scott Specialized Catalogue of United States Stamps and Covers as Scott 1042A, and some sellers still list it under that number.

A British company that purchased the historic Old Main Post Office says it will fight any effort by the City of Chicago to acquire the building through eminent domain.

American-born sculptor Thomas Crawford created statues for the U.S. Capitol, including the Statue of Freedom, which stands atop the Capitol dome and has been featured on U.S. stamps.

One of the most storied aircraft in history — or at least, in philatelic history — will make a surprise appearance at World Stamp Show¬–NY 2016, offering visitors an unprecedented opportunity to see in person the plane from the most famous U.S. stamp of all time, the Inverted Jenny. The restored, hundred-year-old Curtiss JN-4H biplane, which on most summer weekends flies in vintage-aircraft shows at Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome in Dutchess County, N.Y., is being brought to the Javits Center in Manhattan for the eight days of the once-a-decade international stamp show, from May 28 to June 4.

Every four years, the United States Postal Service counts on a surge of political mailings to fill its mailbags. This year expectations are high, with postal officials hoping for as much as $1 billion in added revenue, more than double the level of 2012 political mailings. But the Postal Service’s Office of Inspector General is throwing cold water on those estimates.

The Pobjoy Mint is celebrating the stamp design by issuing a red colored coin, part of a series of colorful coins honoring famous stamp designs, like the Penny Black and Two Pence Blue stamp.

Francis Lewis, a signer of the Declaration of Independence representing New York, was born in Wales. He was elected to the Continental Congress in 1775.

Sister Rosetta Tharpe created an exciting new sound by blending traditional gospel music with the dazzling sound of her electric guitar to captivate a worldwide audience.

Charles M. Russell is one of the most famous artists of the American West. His many paintings and sculptures captured images of the Western frontier and those who worked and lived in it.

Ever since Great Britain pictured Queen Victoria on the world's first postage stamp issued in 1840, royalty has been a popular topic for postal commemoration. Several recent stamps honor European royalty.

A postmark showing a duck and a carousel is commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Webfooters Post Card Club of Portland, Ore. The group is celebrating March 26 with an anniversary event at Oaks Park Dance Pavilion in Portland that includes a post office cancellation station, social hour, guest speaker and more.

For the first time in more than 50 years, the United States Postal Service is transporting mail directly to Cuba. The Postal Service announced March 17 that it has resumed mail service to the island nation after President John F. Kennedy suspended it in 1963 at the height of the Cold War.

Also popular this week were stories about the high salaries earned by small-town postmasters, the sale of the second most valuable stamp in the United Kingdom, and the market for a 1950 Lebanese stamp.

Cherrystone Philatelic Auctioneers will present its Rare Stamps and Postal History of the World auction April 12-13 at the Cherrystone galleries in New York City. The public auction will offer 1,716 lots of material from the United States and worldwide, including stamps, postal stationery, postal history, proofs and essays, large lots and collections, and more.

Nikolay Rimsky-Korsakov, renowned as a composer and music teacher, created Scheherazade and The Flight of the Bumblebee, which are considered among the greatest Russian classical works.

I recently had the opportunity to explore a fascinating book titled Extracts from the Dr. Arthur K.M. Woo Collections. Edited and published by dealer Brian Moorhouse, the book was printed in a very limited edition of just 50 copies. As the title suggests, the book presents highlights from a number of Woo’s collections, many of which contain world-class rarities and other choice gems.

Sixty-four members of Italian Parliament have thrown their support behind a bill that would eliminate the trade, sale, and overall circulation of postcards, stamps, coins, or medals that depict any fascist or Nazi symbolism, mottos, faces, or swastikas, according to an article in the Spring 2016 issue of Fil-Italia.