October 18th, 2007
Stamp-heed!
As promised, today I’ll the present you with the Six Best Stamps Currently on the Market. Let’s get right down to it:
6. “Harriet Beecher Stowe”
I admit, I can’t tell you what Harriet Beecher Stowe wrote, off the top of my head, but I do know who did this portrait of her: Mark Summers. The same illustrator who did all those renderings of authors and musicians for Barnes & Noble. Clearly the guy can draw like a mo-fo and, defying the trend of rushed vector art, he does so in a technique similar to the laborious wood engravings of previous centuries. The results, I think you’ll agree, are quite beautiful.
5. “Washington and Jackson”
A five-dollar stamp? I dunno if it’s worth five-dollars, but that’s a damned good stamp. I like the homage to that ornate, old-timey aesthetic. Bonus points for the unusual orientation.
4. “Circus Wagon”
Circus wagons are cool. Line-art depictions of circus wagons with type set above it in an obscure serif font, the whole layout then printed in dull red ink on white stock? Even cooler.
3. “DC Comics Super Heros”
Shows the USPS is not afraid of pop culture and can have a little fun. Nice move, guys.
2. “Star Wars”
What I said about the “DC Comics Super Heroes” goes double here.
1. “Marvel Comics Super Heros”
Imagine receiving an envelope, postage paid courtesy of Wolver-snikt!ing-rine! The coolness of this one stamp elevates this whole sheet to the number one slot.
So there’s actually some exciting postage out there. Almost makes me want to write someone a lette…. Whoa, gotta go. My iPhone’s blowing up.
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