US #883 – from the Famous Americans Series
Composer Ethelbert Woodbridge Nevin was born on November 25, 1862, in Edgeworth, Pennsylvania.
Nevin received most of his education from his father, who edited a Pittsburgh newspaper, and contributed articles to magazines. He even composed songs, including a number of campaign songs such as “Our Nominee” for James K. Polk. Nevin’s mother played piano – her grand piano was the first to be taken across the Allegheny Mountains.
US #4144 – a 2007 Priority Mail stamp picturing Air Force One
On November 24, 1954, First Lady Mamie Eisenhower christened the first plane to be designated Air Force One.
Decades earlier, Theodore Roosevelt became the first US president to fly in an airplane. The flight came after his time as president, on October 11, 1910. On that occasion, he rode in an airplane piloted by Arch Hoxsey at a county fair in St. Louis.
US #2911 was issued to pay the postage for the first-class, presort letter rate.
On November 23, 1889, the world’s first jukebox was displayed and used at the Palais Royale Saloon in San Francisco, California.
In the early and mid-1800s, coin-operated music boxes and player pianos grew increasingly popular. Requiring a coin payment, these music devices used paper rolls, metal disks, or metal cylinders to play music on one or more instruments inside the machine.
US #1850 – from the Great Americans Series
Founding Father Abraham Baldwin was born on November 22, 1754, in Guilford, Connecticut Colony.
Baldwin spent his childhood in Connecticut and attended Yale College, from which he graduated in 1772. After three years of theological study, he became a Congregationalist minister and also worked as a tutor at his alma mater.
US #2983 – from the Jazz Musicians issue
Coleman Randolph “Hawk” Hawkins was born on November 21, 1904, in Saint Joseph, Missouri.
Hawkins started his musical training early, studying the piano at age four, the cello at seven, and the saxophone at nine. Hawkins attended high school in Chicago and Topeka, Kansas. He also studied harmony and composition for two years at Washburn College in Topeka while he was still in high school.
US #3166 was the first US stamp with a vignette printed entirely by microprinting.
Félix Varela y Morales was born on November 20, 1788, in Havana, Cuba.
After his mother’s death when he was young, Valera went to live with his grandfather in St. Augustine, Florida. His grandfather, Lieutenant Bartolomé Morales, was a commander of the military forces in Spanish Florida.
