This Day in History… November 18, 1865

Posted on November 18, 2019 by MysticStamp

“The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County”

US #4545 – Twain was the 27th honoree in the Literary Arts Series.  Click the image to order.

On November 18, 1865, Mark Twain published an early version of “The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County,” in The New York Saturday Press, bringing him his first significant fame.

During the Civil War, Mark Twain (born Samuel Clemens) lost his job as a steamboat pilot.  He then made his way west to California and Nevada, making ends meet prospecting for silver and gold and writing for various newspapers and magazines.  It was here that his first popular story was born.

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Posted in November 2019, This Day in History | 1 Comment

This Day in History… November 17, 1989

Posted on November 17, 2019 by MysticStamp

World Stamp Show ’89 

US #2410 was issued in advance of the show to promote it.

On November 17, 1989, World Stamp Show ’89 opened its doors and held 11 first-day ceremonies to mark the exposition.

The 1989 World Stamp Show marked a significant first.  It was the first international stamp show ever sponsored by the US Postal Service.

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This Day in History… November 16, 1902

Posted on November 16, 2019 by MysticStamp

Teddy Roosevelt and Teddy Bears

US #3182k from the Celebrate the Century series.

On November 16, 1902, a cartoon appeared in a newspaper that inspired the creation of the first teddy bears, named after President Theodore “Teddy” Roosevelt.

In November 1902, Mississippi Governor Andrew Longino invited President Theodore Roosevelt on a bear-hunting trip.  As the trip went on, many of the other hunters had killed their share of animals, but Roosevelt hadn’t.

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Posted in November 2019, This Day in History | 3 Comments

This Day in History… November 15, 1974

Posted on November 15, 2019 by MysticStamp

First U.S. Self-Adhesive Stamp

US #1552 – America’s first self-adhesive stamp, issued on this day in 1974.

On November 15, 1974, the USPS issued its first experimental self-adhesive stamp.

Throughout the 20th century, US postage evolved through a number of significant innovations such as the use of the rotary press and phosphorescent tagging.  However, while these innovations may have gone largely unnoticed by the general public, one of the greatest postal innovations of the century was the introduction of self-adhesive stamps.  Though common today, they had a rocky start.

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Posted in November 2019, This Day in History | 5 Comments

This Day in History… November 14, 1765

Posted on November 14, 2019 by MysticStamp

Birth of Robert Fulton

US #1270 was issued for Fulton’s 200th birthday.

Engineer and inventor Robert Fulton was born on November 14, 1765, in Little Britain, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.

From a young age, Fulton showed a great talent for art.  After his father died, he moved to Philadelphia and painted portraits and landscapes and provided technical drawings for houses and machinery to provide for his mother and siblings.  While in Philadelphia, he met Benjamin Franklin and several businessmen who encouraged him to travel to Europe to further his art training.

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Posted in November 2019, This Day in History | 3 Comments

This Day in History… November 13, 1982

Posted on November 13, 2019 by MysticStamp

Dedication of Vietnam Veterans Memorial

U.S. #2109 was issued two years after the memorial’s dedication.

US #2109 was issued two years after the memorial’s dedication.  Click the image to order.

On November 13, 1982, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial was officially dedicated in Washington, DC.

In the 1950s, Vietnam was divided along the 17th parallel, into communist North and anti-communist South Vietnam.  Following the assassination of the president of South Vietnam, a period of political instability began, while military generals fought for control of the government.

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Posted in November 2019, This Day in History | 6 Comments