Photography on Stamps: what a great subject for a Topical Stamp Collection!
Marshall Islands Postage Stamp – Georges Eastman – Photography
Ever thought of starting a topical stamp collection on the subject of photography on stamps?
China Postage Stamp -1998- Copyright protection (notice the camera in the center of upper level 🙂
You’d be surprised to discover how many countries of the world issued postage stamps commemorating photographers and photography.
I personally think that collecting stamps about photography is a fascinating idea!
Just take a look at the beautiful sheet of 20 stamps issued by United States Postal Services for its Masters of American Photography serie.
American artists known for their work in photography were honored by the Postal service with a pane of 20 commemorative stamps in a first day ceremony held at the Museum of Photographic Arts in Balboa Park.
The museum was a perfect venue as it was hosting an exhibition of the work of Alfred Stieglitz, the subject of one of the stamps. The museum’s theater was filled with an enthusiastic crowd on hand for the ceremony.
Source: http://www.webacps.org
United States – Masters of American Photography – Sheetlet of 20 self-adhesive postage stamps (Click To Enlarge)
Arranged in chronological order, the stamps feature works by these 20 most influential photographers and provide a “visual sampling of the history and development of photography in the United States and illustrate changes in American culture and society,” said the Postal Service.
Descriptive text on back of USA Sheetlet – Masters of American Photography (Click to enlarge)
American Artists featured on the sheetlet are:
* Southworth (1811-1894) Hawes (1808-1901)
* Timothy H. O’Sullivan 1840-1882
* Carleton E Watkins 1829-1916
* Gertrude Kasebier 1852-1934
* Lewis W. Hine 1874-1940
* Alvin Langdon Coburn 1882-1966
* Edward Steichen 1879-1973
* Alfred Stieglitz 1864-1946
* James VanDerZee 1886-1983
* Dorothea Lange 1895-1965
* Walker Evans 1903-1975
* W. Eugene Smith 1918-1978
* Paul Strand 1890-1976
* Ansel Adams 1902-1984
* Imogen Cunningham 1883-1976
* Andre Kertesz 1894-1985
* Garry Winogrand 1928-1984
* Minor White 1908-1976
* Man Ray (1890-1976)
* Edward Weston (1886-1958)
Below are a few more example of stamps that are part of a photography topical stamp wantlist. 🙂
Camera & Shutter – Turkey 1989 – Commemorating 150th Anniversary of Photography
United States – Photography – Block 4 Stamps
First Day Cover – George Eastman – USPS
Topical Stamp Collecting is definitely a fascinating hobby. No wonder there is more than 20 millions stamp collectors in the USA alone!
Leave a comment below sharing with us which topic(s) you would choose:Â a sport? a craft? a hobby? your favorite pets? airplanes? or whatever else catches your fancy, and if you are already a topical stamp collector, share your topic(s) with us as well.
Happy stamping!
Talk soon,
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PS: In case you missed it, here’s the link again to my Stamp Collecting blog => Discover Topical Stamp Collecting
The set of stamps commemorating the Masters Of American Photography are available in a complete twenty (20) First Day Covers series designed by Mystic Stamp Company.
Great collectibles for Photography lovers as well as Photography topical stamps collectors.Â
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POSTAL COMMEMORATIVE SOCIETY –
Masters of American Photography (2002)
Complete Set of 10 First Day Covers / Cachet depicting Portraits of the Masters of American Photography
Pristine Condition.
Hell, I am a “Photography” stamp collector and do not know many collectors worldwide who are collecting “Photography on stamps. Please contact me if there are any Photography topic stamp collectors.
Regards Bert Buiring, Netherlands
Hi Bert! Nice to meet you 🙂 I am happy to know you are collecting Photography on Stamps. 🙂
There are photography/camera on stamps collectors inside the ATA membership. If you have not been introduced yet to the ATA ( American Topical Association), let me invite you to SecretsToStampCollecting’s blog where you can find contact info:
http://www.secretstostampcollecting.com/checklists/photography/Photography-on-stamps-topical-checklist.html
Hope the above helps. Happy collecting!
Janice Dugas
Topical Stamp Collecting Queen 🙂
This is a great display of photography stamps. Who would know that such people existed. Up till now I had only heard of people passionate for collecting stamps which date back many years. But this is magnificent and true work of art. Thank you for sharing.
Thanks for taking time to comment. It is greatly appreciated. Indeed, collecting stamps by topics is truly fascinating and the good news is that more and more stamp collectors are starting to collect stamps on subjects they are passionnate about. Being myself a topical stamp collector, I created a blog: “Discover Topical Stamp Collecting” at => http://www.secretstostampcollecting.com/members on which you are kindly invited to log on and browse the more than 500 different topics (under the Tab : Topical Checklists) currently registered by the members of the American Topical Association. It is so much fun to collect stamps by subjects! No more empty spaces on page albums. 🙂 What would be your favorite topic? Here’s some ideas: http://www.secretstostampcollecting.com Enjoy and all the very best. Janice
Hi Janice,
I had a stamp collection as a kid but it got lost moving homes. At 60 I am pursuing another hobby from those days – photography. I have a modest collection of stamps on photography/photographers and would love to hear/contact similarly interested persons.
regards,
Hemant