This American Stamp: The Geophysical Year

Here's what I now know about the International Geophysical Year: the idea started in a living room; it was the century's greatest international scientific project; it encompassed 11 Earth sciences, including aurora, precision mapping and airglow; Sputnik was a product of the IGY. Also, Spandex. Also, these mindblowing stamps. "Superimposed above the solar disc and the fiery solar prominences emanating from it is a segment of Michaelangelo's famous fresco, "The Creation of Adam." The goals of the program: ...to observe geophysical phenomena and to secure data from all parts of the world; to conduct this effort on a coordinated basis by fields, and in space and time, so that results could be collated in a meaningful manner.

Collect results in a meaningful manner will be at the top of my 2010 New Year's Resolution list.

It started with magenta and gold

I just finished a vintage stamp project with a client who was after stamps in gold and magenta, and that integrated Black Heritage stamps in these colors. I know that vintage postage on wedding invitations is nothing new. Stamps can really pull an invitation together, and make it match and look pretty. But vintage postage can also tell a little story.

Each envelope had a combination of state birds, the statue of liberty (which say "liberty for all"), Harriet Tubman, Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King, Jr., W.C. Handy (talk about magenta-- one of the prettiest stamps around) and tropical flowers. Some also included stamps commemorating our nation's capitol. I just adored assembling each envelope, and each conveyed a sense of history.

The other sweet part of this job is how many of the invitees lived on the same street. I addressed envelope after envelope to residents of one street who lived one house down from the next. It was so lovely to think about such a tight knit community making their way to this special celebration.

Owney

If you do not know the story of Owney, you probably should. And then you should spend the rest of the night exploring Arago's exhibits.

This American Stamp: Employ the Handicapped

I recently purchased a binder of vintage postage and this page was especially striking. I'd seen the "Employ the Handicapped" stamp before, but never knew the story behind it. This collector carefully pasted in the accompanying article from August 28, 1960. "The stamp," it reads "will picture a man confined to a wheel chair, capably operating a drill press." The stamp was designed by Carl Bobertz, a New York artist. Does anyone know about the original photograph that inspired this design? Or what other work Bobertz has done? All I can find is various comic book covers.

The issuance coincided with the Eighth World Congress of the International Society for the Welfare of Cripples, which was sponsored by the Committee on the Employment of the Physically Handicapped which "promot[ed] employment of physically handicapped workers."

This American Stamp

As some readers might know, Neither Snow offers a vintage postage finding service. I will work with clients to create a suite of postage that matches the colors or themes of their correspondence. Lately I've been inspired to get especially creative and tell little narratives on each envelope. I am excited to announce a forthcoming project that highlights this service for winter 2010. But for now I'd like to tell you a little bit about my passion for vintage postage and postal stationery.

Whenever I sift through old postage I am constantly amazed by America. The feeling is not unlike what I felt last November when Barack Obama was elected president. I experienced complete astonishment. "What, what country is this? I thought I knew America, but I don't really. How could we make this happen?" I am constantly surprised by this country, and with each surprise I feel a greater sense of patriotism and pride.

US postage is one area that never ceases to surprise me. On our postage, we have commemorated and celebrated some truly extraordinary and quirky people, places, things, ideas and events. Sometimes I think about the series of events that went in to creating these miniature canvases with a gummy back: thinking up the thing to commemorate, finding a designer, creating a clear design, rallying public support. Each stamp is like a mini lesson in history. I often think about creating a history curriculum for visual learners based on the country's stamps.

So for the next month I'm going to highlight some of the stamps in my collection that can be characterized as surprising and noteworthy.

Spotted on the UWS

This sign advertising apartments. Not everyday you see this type of Gothic hand on rental flyers.

Happy Penguin

Identity work for happy penguin press. Can't wait to see the new site!

Cards from the Land of Enchantment

A save the date postcard featuring a Santa Fe streamlined train.
The paper texture of these cards was sublime.

Gray Days

A winter-y charcoal envelope.

Sibling Gift

A ex libris bookplate-- a sweet birthday gift from a brother to a sister.

Evidence of The 700...

A snippet from the 700 envelope project.
They were white, 9 x 12 with script extending almost to both edges.

Lace in the Razor Wire

I pass these doilies in the razor wire every day walking to the subway at 14th and 3rd avenue. Photo via flickr.

Hello again.

Thank you for sticking with me dear readers. I appreciate your patience and forgiveness. In the past two weeks I've addressed 700 envelopes for a noted fashion house. I've also completed work for a very exciting and project that I can't wait to tell you all about in a few months. There are some wonderful collaborations afoot. And also, my hard drive died.

On the first project: I have never addressed this many envelopes at one time, but it turned out to be meditative and fun. I'll share a photo soon. The recipients were...ummm...well, they were all remarkable and accomplished people and it was exciting to know that my work would make its way to their mailbox and hopefully brighten their day. Some days my schedule was slightly ridiculous -- going to Bay Ridge to interview octogenarian ballroom dancers and then coming home to calligraph envelopes addressed to cultural icons. But each involves writing in very different ways, using different parts of my brain. And I'm so grateful that I can do both.

Postal Press 2010 Calendar

Postal Press recently released their 2010 calendar. Could it be more wonderful?

From an exhibit at the Chicago Art Institute

Snow/Moss

Yes, that's right. That's my calligraphy above Kate Moss's head. A bit of my work from a recent corporate identity campaign.

Cinderella Stamps

I sometimes wonder when or if Cinderella stamps will ever catch on for wedding invites/other types of correspondence. Cinderellas look like a postage stamp but do not carry any value -- they are purely decorative. I recently received a package of them in the mail from a friend (thank you, S.!). I'd never given them much thought but these were lovely.

Website Update

I've added some new fall samples to the website. I'm complete smitten with oversized envelopes like the one pictured above. I've found a great source for gigantic envelopes (like 20" x 24"). I love the idea of putting a very small invite in a very gigantic envelope.
'

Snow Trade

I received an email not long ago from a client inquiring about escort cards. She said they would be on "vintage ledger paper." I said "tell me more about the materials you are using!" What resulted was a pretty incredible trade. I did the escort cards (pictured above). And Phyllis sent me boxes of her wonderful wedding decorations, including these amazing chalkboards, to use at my wedding. I'm pretty sure I got the better end of the deal. You can see more of Phyllis and Dan's beautiful wedding, photographed by Sarah K. Chen, over at Once Wed.

Hello Again

Coco Paperie's incredibly kind post inspired me to get back on the saddle and start posting again. A little update for my readers: this past month has been the busiest of my life, between getting married in New Mexico and relocating (during the week) to New York for graduate school. I appreciate you sticking with me. I can't promise daily posts, but I'm aiming for a weekly digest of electronic ephemera, probably on Sunday or Monday. Most of all - happy fall!

Mysterious Letters

Two people decide to write a letter to the entire world, and start with Cushendall, Ireland. It doesn't get any better than this. {via design*sponge}

The Graceful Envelope

Maybe I'm wrong in thinking that only people who travel in calligraphy circles are aware of the Graceful Envelope competition but I think it's just great. Above are some that I especially like from this year.

Also, many of you have asked about calligraphy lessons (specifically, do I give them). Sadly, I don't (nor do I feel qualified) but, if you're in Philadelphia, I highly recommend you head over to the Philadelphia Calligrapher's Society and take a gander at the members who teach. I can give you some specific recommendations if you wish.

Bicycle envelopes

Another great one...

Envelopes that break my heart all over the floor

I found these envelopes celebrating the American Bicentennial. Each one honors a different aspect of...well, what makes America great? I get inexplicably emotional when I look at these envelopes-- something about living in a country that once honored the American Craftsman, Farmer and Homemaker on correspondence...it's too much.

August Favorite: Greta Garbo

It is hard to choose favorite stamps. I have many. So I'm going to try to choose a favorite each month. These Greta Garbo stamps are just stunning. Aside from the the striking image, these stamps are textured-- they are engraved. I've never felt another stamp like it.

Gratitude

I recently wrote one of the most important notes of gratitude of my life. The experience reminded me that I should write these types of expressions more often.

Summer brights

There have been some wonderful, bright colors this season. Here: vibrant teal.

Stamps: Birds & Animals

I recently started offering a vintage postage service . I will track down wonderful old stamps for Neither Snow customers to adorn their correspondence. My most recent haul includes the state bird stamps and an assortment of wonderful animals.

Black & yellow

Recent order: I love the look of black ink on this rusty yellow envelope.

Desperately seeking: the person who made this sign

Many months ago we had reason to visit the Trenton train station. I was awfully impressed with the care someone took to write out this sign. He/she even sketched in guide lines. The handwriting makes the message so much more effective.

Words in Chicago

We had a great visit to Chicago and stopped by the new modern wing of the Art Institute. I'm always smitten with Cy Twombly's use of text (50 days at Iliam is one of my favorite rooms at the PMA).The photography installation was mounted in a way I'd never seen, with folded gray paper lining the walls from top to bottom, with text printed on it. The font was super interesting: it's not entirely clear in this photo but some of the letters (there's no pattern as far as I can tell) are bolder than others which makes for a terrific effect.

Wedding as Circus = amen

My heart jumped for joy when I saw that our dearly Emily of EmPrint Press printed these invitations. The wedding-as-circus concept is just so dead on.

{via Once Wed}

Personalized Stationery

A letterpress artist recently got in touch about personalized stationery. I can't wait to see how these turn out when printed!

Sup at Frankie's 457

I just finished a fun menu for a couple hosting their reception at Frankie's 457 in Brooklyn. As much as I love working with paper there's something satisfying about scanning as well.

I was pleased to learn more about the US Postal Service Motto's origin...and to think I actually read Herodotus in college and missed this entirely. The image of horse and man is especially sweet...

	It is said that as many days as there are in the whole journey, so many are the men and horses that stand along the road, each horse and man at the interval of a day’s journey; and these are stayed neither by snow nor rain nor heat nor darkness from accomplishing their appointed course with all speed.
	HERODOTUS, Herodotus, trans. A.D. Godley, vol. 4, book 8, verse 98, pp. 96–97 (1924).

Ann Wood

This pretty much sums up everything I want in life. From Ann Wood.

Meadowbrook Farm

Found this photo from my visit last year to Meadowbrook Farm and was reminded of how great the place is...

Hands on Deck

Still more evidence that the past could be the future: The Case for Working with you Hands (NYT)

Dyeing Parachutes

I spent last weekend dyeing parachutes for the bridesmaids skirts. It was awfully gratifying. I have lots to say on this process if you decide you too are crazy enough to undertake it. Let's just say that ProChemical saved my life.