Postal Stamps

The price of a first-class stamp went up 2 cents to 22 cents and a post card went up a penny to 14 cents, the first postal increase in more than three years. Other rates increased an average of 10%. The increase is the first since Nov. 1, 1981, and the 13th rate change since postal stamps were made compulsory in 1885. Postal officials indicated they aim to keep rates at the new levels for five years.

Bugs Bunny got one first, then Sylvester and Tweety. Pretty soon it seemed every duck (Daffy), pig (Porky) and coyote (Wile E.) had one. On Wednesday, the Mickey Mouse gang -- perhaps the most famous characters in the bunch -- joined the club as the United States Postal Service issued a series of commemorative stamps featuring Disney friends. Some purist philatelists say the club Mickey Mouse just joined is not very elite.

More than my displeasure at the rising costs of postage over the years is my sadness/amazement as to the postmaster general's refusal to honor Laurel and Hardy on a postage stamp ("The Pictures on Our Postal Stamps" by Betty Cuniberti, Aug. 23). In my opinion, lesser individuals have been so honored, and during the hard times of the Great Depression in America, these two comic "geniuses" brought laughs to people (those fortunate enough to have the admission . . . ) during a period when laughs were "very" difficult/impossible?

For more than 25 years, the residents of the Orange Crest Mobile Home Park in Orange had a handy way of communicating with each other: their mailboxes. Things such as personal notes, monthly newsletters, bridge notices, greeting cards, clubroom party announcements, sympathy cards. Management even used the mailbox for monthly rent statements. No more. The U.S. Postal Service is on to them and has put a stop to the practice.

The image of Malcolm X, one of the most controversial African American leaders of the 1960s, will join the official ranks of Americana by way of a U.S. postage stamp early next year. He becomes the 22nd person honored in the Postal Service's Black Heritage series. An Associated Press photograph of Malcolm X answering a question at a 1964 news conference in New York will be featured on the 33-cent stamp. It also contains the name he used at the end of his life, El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz.

Sen. Dianne Feinstein rushed to the Senate chamber last Thursday for damage control. "We'll lose anyway," her dispirited legislative aide said, just before the California Democrat dashed out. What set her in motion were the impassioned remarks of Sen. Ted Stevens of Alaska, who was trying to torpedo Feinstein's plan for an optional 33-cent, first-class postage stamp that would devote a penny to breast cancer research. Americans willing to contribute could use it in place of the 32-cent stamp.

There isn't any better example of how this country values its women than the article about the rejection by the U.S. Postal Service of a stamp commemorating the American farm woman ("The Goal: A Stamp of Their Own," Aug. 24). Postal officials cited "a lack of national interest." The same day, the post office unveiled a stamp, covering half the side of a building, commemorating Barbie! Wake up ladies and smell the stench of misogyny and devaluation. There's actually a guy in the administration named James Tolbert dumb enough to say: "There is a lack of national interest and historical perspective to support a postal stamp honoring farm women."

A new U.S. Postal Service stamp featuring Malcolm X made its West Coast debut Wednesday. The stamp, unveiled at the Fletcher Bowron Plaza in downtown, is the 22nd in the Postal Service's black heritage series, said Larry Dozier, spokesman for the U.S. Postal Service. More than 100 million adhesive 33-cent stamps were printed. The unveiling ceremony featured dancers and gospel hymns sung by the Dublin Avenue Elementary School choir.

The British postal service commemorated the 150th anniversary of Penny Black, the first adhesive postal stamp, introduced by Sir Robert Hill to organize British mail service and later adopted by the entire world.

A serious effort was once made by a large group of Americans to persuade the postmaster general to put an outhouse on a postage stamp. But that suggestion--to honor the toilet's contribution to public health--was rejected. Recently an unusually vigorous outpouring of support for a Laurel and Hardy stamp met with defeat as well.

There isn't any better example of how this country values its women than the article about the rejection by the U.S. Postal Service of a stamp commemorating the American farm woman ("The Goal: A Stamp of Their Own," Aug. 24). Postal officials cited "a lack of national interest." The same day, the post office unveiled a stamp, covering half the side of a building, commemorating Barbie! Wake up ladies and smell the stench of misogyny and devaluation. There's actually a guy in the administration named James Tolbert dumb enough to say: "There is a lack of national interest and historical perspective to support a postal stamp honoring farm women."

A new U.S. Postal Service stamp featuring Malcolm X made its West Coast debut Wednesday. The stamp, unveiled at the Fletcher Bowron Plaza in downtown, is the 22nd in the Postal Service's black heritage series, said Larry Dozier, spokesman for the U.S. Postal Service. More than 100 million adhesive 33-cent stamps were printed. The unveiling ceremony featured dancers and gospel hymns sung by the Dublin Avenue Elementary School choir.

The image of Malcolm X, one of the most controversial African American leaders of the 1960s, will join the official ranks of Americana by way of a U.S. postage stamp early next year. He becomes the 22nd person honored in the Postal Service's Black Heritage series. An Associated Press photograph of Malcolm X answering a question at a 1964 news conference in New York will be featured on the 33-cent stamp. It also contains the name he used at the end of his life, El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz.

Sen. Dianne Feinstein rushed to the Senate chamber last Thursday for damage control. "We'll lose anyway," her dispirited legislative aide said, just before the California Democrat dashed out. What set her in motion were the impassioned remarks of Sen. Ted Stevens of Alaska, who was trying to torpedo Feinstein's plan for an optional 33-cent, first-class postage stamp that would devote a penny to breast cancer research. Americans willing to contribute could use it in place of the 32-cent stamp.

Neighborhood postman Jerry Morgan weighs packages on a manual scale and uses longhand addition to tally stamp purchases at the antiquated Rolling Hills General Store and Post Office. The 66-year-old postal veteran has worked here for 15 years, ever since he retired from the U.S. Postal Service, and runs the post office with a know-your-neighbor friendliness.

The British postal service commemorated the 150th anniversary of Penny Black, the first adhesive postal stamp, introduced by Sir Robert Hill to organize British mail service and later adopted by the entire world.

Bugs Bunny got one first, then Sylvester and Tweety. Pretty soon it seemed every duck (Daffy), pig (Porky) and coyote (Wile E.) had one. On Wednesday, the Mickey Mouse gang -- perhaps the most famous characters in the bunch -- joined the club as the United States Postal Service issued a series of commemorative stamps featuring Disney friends. Some purist philatelists say the club Mickey Mouse just joined is not very elite.

For more than 25 years, the residents of the Orange Crest Mobile Home Park in Orange had a handy way of communicating with each other: their mailboxes. Things such as personal notes, monthly newsletters, bridge notices, greeting cards, clubroom party announcements, sympathy cards. Management even used the mailbox for monthly rent statements. No more. The U.S. Postal Service is on to them and has put a stop to the practice.

More than my displeasure at the rising costs of postage over the years is my sadness/amazement as to the postmaster general's refusal to honor Laurel and Hardy on a postage stamp ("The Pictures on Our Postal Stamps" by Betty Cuniberti, Aug. 23). In my opinion, lesser individuals have been so honored, and during the hard times of the Great Depression in America, these two comic "geniuses" brought laughs to people (those fortunate enough to have the admission . . . ) during a period when laughs were "very" difficult/impossible?

A serious effort was once made by a large group of Americans to persuade the postmaster general to put an outhouse on a postage stamp. But that suggestion--to honor the toilet's contribution to public health--was rejected. Recently an unusually vigorous outpouring of support for a Laurel and Hardy stamp met with defeat as well.