Collecting History

The National Philatelic Collection celebrates its 125th anniversary in 2011, making it the oldest intact national stamp collection in the world according to the Smithsonian Institution's website.

In honor of the event, a new exhibit, Collecting History, opened this week in Washington.

The online intro says the exhibit, "... remembers a few of the hundreds of donors who have given their collections to the Smithsonian for the benefit of the nation. It explores the decisive role of twelve successive curators in developing the national collection and exhibiting it to the public. It also invites you to consider the importance of this national treasure and reflect on what the material within it can teach us about world cultures and the American experience."

To learn more, click here.