Vote For Your Favorite Stamp

Space.com reports the Smithsonian Institution's National Postal Museum is asking for help in selecting an iconic stamp that will best represent the United States in its planned William H. Gross Stamp Gallery.

One of the choices is the first Priority Mail stamp - the $2.40 Apollo 11 single. Currently it is in the lead with 60% of the vote.

Reporter Leonard David writes, "The moon-landing priority mail stamp was unveiled back in 1989, during ceremonies marking the 20th anniversary of Apollo 11's July 1969 moon landing...The stamp features two astronauts planting the Stars and Stripes on the lunar surface. The designer of the stamp was Christopher Calle of Ridgefield, Conn. Calle is the son of Paul Calle, the veteran illustrator who produced the first moon-landing tribute stamp, a 10-cent airmail stamp issued on Sept. 9, 1969."

Other stamps in the competition include those picturing...

• The Statue of Liberty
• The Capitol Dome
• The Liberty Bell
• Shield, Eagle and Flags
• The Freedom Statue
• The Flag and Fireworks 

The stamp that receives the most votes by January 20, 2011, will be the winner.

Shown above, an Artcraft cacheted cover created  by space collector-dealer, Ken Havekotte

According to a write-up on the Collectspace.com website it would be "considered an unofficial First Day Cover (FDC), as it was canceled not in the official First Day City, Washington, DC, but at four locations in the KSC-area: KSC, Cape Canaveral, Titusville and Merritt Island, FL. As such, it would be considered both an unofficial FDC and an anniversary cover."

To vote, go to http://www.postalmuseum.si.edu/vote/.