It's official
It’s official. Postmaster General John E. Potter has announced that the U.S. Postal Service is reducing the time it takes a person to become eligible to appear on a stamp following his or her death from 10 years to five.
In a USPS press release, Potter is quoted as saying, "“For more than three decades we have had a rule requiring notable Americans be deceased 10 years before they could be recognized for commemoration on a postage stamp. We created this rule to make certain their legacy stood the test of time. The Citizens Stamp Advisory Committee has been discussing this issue for some time and now has recommended that we reduce that wait time to five years."
“In this era of instant communications, I think this is a reasonable suggestion and it will allow us to honor a subject’s lifetime achievements while their memory is still relatively fresh in the public’s eye,” Potter said. “This new approach will take effect Jan. 1, 2007.”
The Committee will not accept or consider proposals for a subject until at least three years after his/her death. The change does not affect deceased U.S. presidents, who may be honored with a memorial stamp as soon as the first birth anniversary following their death.
For additional details on the stamp selection process, click here.
In a USPS press release, Potter is quoted as saying, "“For more than three decades we have had a rule requiring notable Americans be deceased 10 years before they could be recognized for commemoration on a postage stamp. We created this rule to make certain their legacy stood the test of time. The Citizens Stamp Advisory Committee has been discussing this issue for some time and now has recommended that we reduce that wait time to five years."
“In this era of instant communications, I think this is a reasonable suggestion and it will allow us to honor a subject’s lifetime achievements while their memory is still relatively fresh in the public’s eye,” Potter said. “This new approach will take effect Jan. 1, 2007.”
The Committee will not accept or consider proposals for a subject until at least three years after his/her death. The change does not affect deceased U.S. presidents, who may be honored with a memorial stamp as soon as the first birth anniversary following their death.
For additional details on the stamp selection process, click here.
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