Materials from the Postmaster General's Collection

Kids Page

Welcome to the “Stamps Take Flight” exhibit! It features stamps and artwork from the Postmaster General’s Collection.

The Postmaster General is the head of the United States Postal Service, an independent government agency.

The special items on display from the Postmaster General’s Collection show different ways to print stamps. See how planes, spaceships, and other flying machines have been printed on stamps over time.

Are you ready to start?
3….2…..1…..Blast off!

Refer to caption
Benjamin Franklin

The title Postmaster General dates to before the Revolutionary War, when Benjamin Franklin was joint Postmaster General of the British colonies in North America. In 1775, the Continental Congress named him Postmaster General of the United Colonies. Benjamin Franklin is considered the first Postmaster General.

For a complete list of all of the Postmasters General, with portraits and their years of service, click here to go to the National Postal Museum's U.S. Postmasters General web page.

Engraved die, 1851 stamp essay

Learn to create your own stamp engraving at home with a few simple materials.

Learn more about stamps and stories!

Websites to Visit:

https://about.usps.com/who-we-are/postal-history/
Find out more about the Postmaster General and the history of the U.S. Postal Service.

http://www.stamps.org
The American Philatelic Society has information for stamp collectors of all ages and levels.

https://bep.gov
Learn more about engraving from the U.S. Bureau of Engraving and Printing.

Books to Read:

Gibbons, Gail. The Post Office Book: Mail and How it Moves.
New York: HarperCollins Publishers, 1986. [Ages 5-8]

Jonath, Leslie. Stamp It!: The Ultimate Stamp Collecting Activity Book.
San Francisco: Chronicle Books, LLC., 2002. [Ages 7-10]

Krensky, Stephen. Breaking into Print: Before and After the Printing Press.
New York: Little, Brown & Company, 1996. [Ages 9-12]

Powell, Michelle. Printing (Step by Step).
Chicago: Heinemann Library, 2002. [Ages 8-10]

Stott, Carole. Space Exploration.
New York: DK Publishing, Inc., 2004. [Ages 9-12]

Van Leeuwen, Jean. The Amazing Air Balloon.
New York: Dial, 2003. [Ages 5-8]