A History Of America In Thirty-Six Postage Stamps
by
Chris West
Order:
USA
Can
Picador, 2014 (2014)
Hardcover, e-Book
Reviewed by Jessica Maguire
P
hilatelists and historians take delight!
A History of America In Thirty-Six Postage Stamps
is here!
T
he postage stamp; we just stick it on our envelopes, never giving it a second thought. But the postage stamp is more than just an object that gets our letters from one address to another. The postage stamp is also a work of art that can tell us a lot about the history of our culture.
Y
ou can tell a lot about history from a stamp, if only you look closely enough. Author Chris West profiles thirty-six different stamps, beginning with the George II of Great Britain Revenue stamp in 1765 clear up a self-designed stamp, circa 2014.
W
est discusses interesting facts, such as how America started with a stamp and how citizens can secure its use for future generations. The reader will also discover how the stamp was used to promote American government propaganda and the significance of stamp collection.
I
am not a philatelist or historian, and these topics are not necessarily my genre of choice. Even so, I found this to be an interesting read. I did like viewing pictures of each of the thirty-six stamps and how they changed over the years, the cost in particular. The next time I stick a stamp on an envelope, I think I will take a closer look to see what the stamp actually says.
Note: Opinions expressed in reviews and articles on this site are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of BookLoons.
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