Chris Calle (American, B. 1961) "World Stamp Expo '89" Signed lower left. Mixed Media on Illustration Board.

Provenance: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation.

This painting was originally published on the Fleetwood First Day Cover for the U.S. 25c World Stamp Expo '89 issued March 16, 1989.

Retired schoolteacher Rowland Hill wrote a booklet in 1837 explaining what he saw as flaws in the postal system. At that time, postal charges were based on the number of sheets in a letter and the distance it traveled, and were usually collected from the recipient. Hill felt this was inefficient -- time was wasted figuring charges and many charges went unpaid because the system carried letters that recipients refused to accept. Hill proposed a prepaid penny-per-half-ounce rate for all letters, no matter what distance they traveled. The postmaster general was initially appalled by this wild, visionary and extravagant proposal, but it was adopted in 1839, nonetheless. Stamps and postage-paid envelopes, first issued in 1840, were much like those now in use; their form has changed little since. Collectors appeared immediately, soon followed by the first stamp catalogues -- within twenty years, they were showing twelve hundred stamps issued by a hundred different entities. Today, the enormous numbers of stamp collectors, and stamps to be collected, have made the pursuit a highly organized hobby. Regularly issued catalogues describe almost every stamp available and list current prices. Since the early 1920's, the first day of issue of every stamp has been an occasion for philatelic celebration in the United States, and since 1937 ceremonies have included the use of a special postmark. The stamp featured on this First Day Cover commemorates the 1989 World Stamp Expo.

Image Size: 16.25 x 13.25 in.
Overall Size: 23.25 x 20.5 in.
Unframed.
(B11897)

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