Ralph Bunche was a significant figure in the American civil rights struggle, in peace negotiations in the Middle East, and in the formation of the United Nations.

The long-anticipated completion of a new state-of-the-art American Philatelic Research Library is much closer to reality. On July 31, the APRL board of trustees approved plans for the library’s final construction, which should begin by mid-August.

The firm of Daniel F. Kelleher held a sale June 30 in its Danbury, Conn., gallery of the Fleischmann Family collection of United States revenue, private-die proprietary and telegraph stamps. The collection was formed over three generations by one of the prominent families of Cincinnati, the founders of the Fleischmann Yeast Co.

An American icon is pictured on British computer-produced self-adhesive postage labels to be issued Sept. 16, the opening day of the Autumn Stampex show in London. The design depicts the Statue of Liberty with the New York skyline behind it, as seen from the deck of a ship.

The American Philatelic Research Library announced in early August that the final phase of its construction is under way at the American Philatelic Center in Bellefonte, Pa.

Collectors frequently have deja-vu experiences when visiting foreign countries, when they recognize buildings or scenery from their stamp albums. This is exactly what happened to me when I spent a week on the island of Lundy in early 2014.

Beijing has been an important city since antiquity. It was the capital of China in the last three dynasties of Yuan (Mongol), Ming and Qing, and also is the capital of the People’s Republic of China. My connection to this city began when my family moved there in 1992.

New stamps from France feature animal’s eyes and are appropriately called “Les animaux nous regardent,” which translates to “the animals are watching.” France’s La Poste issued the 12 self-adhesive stamps July 31 in a single booklet. Each design focuses on the animal’s pupil. If you look closely, you can see the name of the animal inscribed on each eye.

Known as America's "Queen of Comedy," Lucille Ball starred as Lucy Ricardo in the long-running TV series I Love Lucy. She was born in Jamestown, N.Y., in 1911.

The Route 66 Collectors Show: Coins, Stamps and Sports Cards hobby event will return for the sixth consecutive year later this year. The free admission show will be held at the Continental Banquet Center at 2802 N. Range Line Road in Joplin, Mo.

A campaign oranized by Jewish News lobbying for the portrait of British Holocaust hero Nicholas Winton to be put on a Royal Mail stamp just might realize its goal. BBC News reports, "Royal Mail said Sir Nicholas, from Berkshire, was 'definitely among the subjects for future consideration.'"

How much training does it take to be a drummer? At the level of proficiency represented by the young drummer on the 13¢ Drummer Boy stamp (Scott 1629) from The Spirit of ‘76 American Bicentennial set issued Jan. 1, 1976, probably not a lot.

Danish West Indies issued its first stamps in 1856. Its stamp output totaled fewer than 60 postage stamps and eight postage due stamps. The last set, comprising eight King Christian X definitive stamps (Scott 51-58) issued in 1915, is surprisingly difficult to find in grades of very fine or better.

Grandchildren are wonderful, but it can be daunting explaining to a 6-year-old why you collect stamps and old envelopes. So on occasion, I buy a stamp or cover that I wouldn’t normally collect, just because it will appeal to a youngster.

One of the four forever stamps issued May 23, 2012, pays tribute to the American film director John Huston. Born Aug. 5, 1906, Huston's many great films include The Maltese Falcon.

“Arriving Postmaster General.” Those words greeted United States Postmaster General Megan Brennan Aug. 4 as she received a nautical welcome to the official first-day ceremony for the Coast Guard’s new forever stamp. The greeting for her and the other platform guests typically is given only to dignitaries boarding U.S. ships.

On Sept. 29, 1991, the United States Postal Service issued a $1 stamp to promote its sponsorship of the Winter and Summer Olympic Games that would take place the following year in Albertville, France, and Barcelona, Spain, respectively.

Proclaimed an honorary United States citizen in 1981, Swedish-born diplomat Raoul Wallenberg saved thousands of Jews during World War II by fabricating papers to deceive Nazi occupiers in Budapest.

Remember all those anonymous, secret-filled postcards that were sent to Frank Warren and showcased on his PostSecret website? Well, they're now being showcased at the Smithsonian's National Postal Musuem in its new exhibition, "PostSecret: The Power of a Postcard."

For a century and a half, forests have been leveled to provide the paper for philatelic publications to describe the various printing methods for stamps. This is crucial information. Printing techniques can be used to tell the genuine from a forgery, to distinguish high-quality initial printings from subsequent inferior ones, and to determine which look-alike stamps were printed at different times, using similar but distinct technologies.