Birth of Moss Hart

US #3882 was issued for Hart’s 100th birthday.

Playwright and theater director Moss Hart was born on October 24, 1904, in New York City, New York.

Hart was raised in relative poverty in the Bronx.  As a child, he was close to his Aunt Kate, who took him to the theater frequently.  Though he lost contact with her after she and his parents had a falling out, he always credited her with giving him his love for theater.  He learned that the theater made possible “the art of being somebody else… not a scrawny boy with bad teeth [and] a funny name.” 

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Dag Hammarskjöld Invert Controversy

US #1203 – The original non-error stamp issued on this day in 1962. Click the image to order.

On October 23, 1962, the US Post Office Department unknowingly issued an unknown number of inverted Dag Hammarskjöld error stamps.  The fallout from this issue became known as Day’s Folly (after Postmaster General J. Edward Day).

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Holiday Celebrations Series 

US #3118 – The first US Hanukkah stamp, issued on this day in 1996.

On October 22, 1996, the USPS issued its first stamp honoring Hanukkah, which was also the first stamp in the Holiday Celebrations Series. 

The US has issued Christmas stamps since 1962.  Over time, two series developed – Contemporary Christmas and Traditional Christmas.  While the Contemporary Christmas stamps feature images of modern celebrations such as Christmas trees and Santa, Traditional Christmas stamps depict the Madonna and Child, the Holy Family, and angels.

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First Appearance of Wonder Woman

US #4084c was part of a sheet honoring several DC Comics superheroes. Click the image to order.

On October 21, 1941, Wonder Woman was introduced in All Star Comics #8.

As the world was at war in the early 1940s, comic books came under fire for promoting violence.  While some called for comics to be banned, one man saw an opportunity to improve comics and empower young girls, with the wise and mighty Wonder Woman.

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First U.S. Automated Post Office 

US #1164 was issued on this day in 1960.

On October 20, 1960, America’s first automated post office opened in Providence, Rhode Island.

By the mid-1950s, post offices around the country were dealing with a massive amount of mail that they struggled to keep up with using their traditional systems. In 1958, Postmaster General Arthur Summerfield approved the construction of the first fully automated post office in the country in Providence, Rhode Island.

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Battle of Cedar Creek

US #2345 was issued for the 200th anniversary of Virginia’s statehood. Click the image to order. 

On October 19, 1864, North and South converged at Cedar Creek, Virginia in what would be the last Confederate attempt to invade the North.

After the Battle at Opequon, General Jubal Early retreated with his Southern Army to Waynesboro.  Union General Philip Sheridan took advantage of the open Shenandoah Valley and began his scorched-earth campaign.  The army burned crops, mills, and factories in order to cut off the South’s source of food and supplies.

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