Purists grouse, but pop postage stamps still sell

April 5, 1998
Web posted at: 1:39 p.m. EDT (1739 GMT)

From Reporter Kathleen Koch

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The vote is in: In the first time the public was ever allowed to pick upcoming U.S. postage stamp subjects, entertainment figures and pop culture came out the winners this week. The results were in line with a recent trend toward putting pop icons on stamps -- a trend with which the stamp-collecting community is not altogether pleased.

It all began with Elvis back in 1993. By the end of 1995 the king of rock was the king of postage, too, selling a record 124 million stamps and becoming the best-selling U.S. postage stamp of all time.

Poll: Do you think the U.S. post office should continue putting pop icons on stamps? Yes No

But it was a "wascally rabbit" that really pushed the buttons of serious collectors when the Bugs Bunny stamp was issued in 1997.

"Think of your reaction if you looked in your billfold and Washington and Lincoln (on $1 and $5 bills) had just been replaced by Sylvester and Tweety Bird," explained a chagrined Michael Laurence, the editor-publisher of philatelist standard Linn's Stamp News.

Now, the votes of 800,000 people have named the likes of "I Love Lucy," rock 'n' roll music, cars with tail fins and 3-D movies the subjects of a 15-stamp series on the 1950s. The stamps will go on sale next spring.

Memorabilia sells for post office, too

It's hard to blame the postal service for going Hollywood. After Elvis' stamp appearance made a sales record, a Marilyn Monroe stamp released in 1995 became the best-selling stamp for that year. And a James Dean stamp, released in 1996, was the most-saved single commemorative stamp of that year.

Every stamp that ends up in an album and not a mailbox represents pure profit for the post office. It made $300 million last year alone from stamps people saved.

Still, if you flash Bugs Bunny at a stamp show, collectors cringe.

"They're for the common person that comes out, likes a stamp and wants to go buy it," said one collector.

Stamps 1 min. 45 sec. VXtreme video

"They're not meant for serious collectors -- they're meant for kids and people who collect rabbits," said another collector despairing of the entertainment industry's stamp on stamps.

Pop subjects make money, get kids involved

The Postal Service counters that opting for stamps with popular, trendy subjects is part of the reason it made a billion dollars in profits each year since 1995.

"We're non-taxpayer supported. And if we can find new and different ways to generate revenue for the bottom line, ultimately, all the American consumers benefit because we hold rates stable," said Azeezaly Jaffer, the executive director of the USPS's stamp services.

And nearly everyone agrees the new stamps may ensure the hobby's survival by getting kids interested.

In past years at collectors' shows, "You looked across the room there were gray-haired men and balding men," said Joseph Savarese of the American Stamp Dealers Association. "Now you come to the shows and you see women, young people, children, coming back. So I think it has helped us all."

The Postal Service still plans to issue hand-engraved stamps for those stuck on tradition But they'll likely be licked in popularity by stamps bearing poodle skirts and hula hoops.

Related sites:

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• United States Postal Service (USPS)
• USPS stamp voting site
• The American Stamp Dealers Association

External sites are not endorsed by CNN Interactive.

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