In 2007 the U.S. Postal Service began issuing “forever” stamps at 41 cents each, stamps that were good “forever” with no additional postage. They were on sheets of 20 and frequently carried a theme, offering lessons or messages with illustrations and designs by gifted artists.
Among other favorites: The Harry Potter collection (2013, 46 cents) with photos of cast and characters; the story of Owney the Postal Dog; the greats of major league baseball; muscle cars; Transcontinental Railroad locomotives; American wildflowers. And striking illustrations for “Made in America: Building a Nation”. I’ve recently worked through “Garden Delights” with photos of hummingbirds at work. “Protect Sea Turtles,” and “Manatee” are recent enchanting issues. It seems painful to slap one on an envelope headed for a credit card billing dungeon.
A few people have griped about the cost, up from 68 cents to73 cents in July and since 2007, a 78 percent increase.
But everything is up since 2007. That $10,000 pickup in 2007 is now $45,000 at least. Groceries, housing, clothing, utilities, cable and satellite TV, smart phones and more ‒ up. And the cost of insurance (vehicles, homeowner and rental, health and life) is through the stratosphere.
A postage stamp is art with a flourish, guaranteed transport for your missive, and for a lot less than a buck.
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Living color and art can be found at the Lindsborg Post Office, a comfort zone that tends to soothe, give pause to consider the finer things around. Start with the raised flower bed, radiant aside the front steps, and above the doorway a clerestory, flowers painted along the frame and panes.
Inside, magnificence in a small space: Old wood preserved; heavy, high writing tables; the etched and frosted glass of doors that say “Janitor’s Closet”, and “Postmaster”. On the west wall over the postmaster’s door, the striking Sandzén mural, Kansas Stream. Past the framed teller windows, a small alcove is lined with brass drawers, raised numbers and keyholes at the ready. It all speaks of times ago when things were sturdy and complete and unalloyed.
The building has been open at 2nd and Lincoln since 1936. A brass plate near the door announces its place on the National Register of Historic Places. A stone inlay on the planter tells us the officials responsible in 1935: Henry Morgenthau, Secretary of the Treasury; James A. Farley, Postmaster General; Louis A. Simon, supervising architect; Neal A. Melick, supervising engineer.
Our post office is a den of courtesy, assistance, humor, concern, advice and who knows what else. People behind the counter and who carry the mail make all the difference.
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The Postal Service is a footing of this nation. America discarded the shards of confederacy as the Pony Express grew and evolved into a large and vital service. It remains fundamental to the energy and vitality of America.
E-mail and United Parcel Service have cut into Post Office business, although UPS now depends heavily on postal deliveries, and the Internet is a sluiceway for the nation’s junk mail, rumor mills and digital trash.
Everyone needs the Post Office. Without it the country well might
have remained a scattering of territories, and not a United States. We like to kid about the cost of posting a letter, or chuckle at the bewildering routes of a parcel from there to here. But overall the postal record speaks of efficiency, courtesy, unfailing service ‒ and beauty. That’s an impressive package for any business.
