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Left to right (standing): David L. Eynon, Jean Picker-Firstenberg, I. Michael Heyman, Richard "Digger" Phelps, John M. Hotchner, Michael R. Brock, Ronald A. Robinson, and Cary R. Brick
Left to right (sitting): Sylvia Harris, Dr. C. Douglas Lewis (Vice Chairperson), Dr. Virginia M. Noelke (Chairperson), John Sawyer (former member), and Meredith Davis
Not Pictured: Karl Malden, Maria Santana
The U.S. Postal Service is proud of its role in portraying the American experience to a world audience through the issuance of postage stamps and postal stationery.
Almost all subjects chosen to appear on U.S. stamps and postal stationery are suggested by the public. Each year, Americans submit proposals to the Postal Service on literally thousands of different topics. Every stamp suggestion is considered, regardless of who makes it or how it is presented.
On behalf of the Postmaster General, the Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee (CSAC) is tasked with evaluating the merits of all stamp proposals. Established in 1957, the Committee provides the Postal Service with a "breadth of judgment and depth of experience in various areas that influence subject matter, character and beauty of postage stamps."
The Committee's primary goal is to select subjects for recommendation to the Postmaster General that are both interesting and educational. In addition to Postal Service's extensive line of regular stamps, approximately 25 new subjects for commemorative stamps are recommended each year. Stamp selections are made with all postal customers in mind, not just stamp collectors. A good mix of subjects, both interesting and educational, is essential.
Committee members are appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the Postmaster General. The Committee is composed of 15 members whose backgrounds reflect a wide range of educational, artistic, historical and professional expertise. All share an interest in philately and the needs of the mailing public.
The Committee itself employs no staff. The Postal Service's Stamp Development group handles Committee administrative matters, maintains Committee records and responds to as many as 50,000 inquiries received annually recommending stamp subjects and designs.
The Committee meets four times yearly in Washington, D.C. At the meetings, the members review all proposals that have been received since the previous meeting. No in-person appeals by stamp proponents are permitted. The members also review and provide guidance on artwork and designs for stamp subjects that are scheduled to be issued. The criteria established by this independent group ensure that stamp subjects have stood the test of time, are consistent with public opinion and have broad national interest.
The Stamp Selection Process
Ideas for stamp subjects that meet the CSAC criteria may be addressed to the Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee; Stamp Development; US Postal Service; 1735 North Lynn St Rm 5013; Arlington VA 22209-6432. Subjects should be submitted at least three years in advance of the proposed date of issue to allow sufficient time for consideration and for design and production, if the subject is approved.
Stamp proposals are to be submitted in writing to the Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee. This allows everyone the same opportunity to suggest a new stamp subject. All proposals are reviewed by the Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee regardless of how they are submitted, i.e., stamped cards, letters or petitions.
After a proposal is determined not to violate the criteria set by CSAC, research is done on the proposed stamp subject. Each new proposed subject is listed on the CSAC's agenda for its next meeting. The CSAC considers all new proposals and takes one of two actions: it may reject the new proposal or it may set it aside for consideration for future issuance. If set aside for consideration, the subject remains "under consideration" in a file maintained for the Committee.
Proponents are not advised if a subject has been approved for issuance until a general announcement is made to the public. While the Postal Service relies heavily upon the Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee, it has the exclusive and final authority to determine both subject matter and designs for U.S. postal stamps and postal stationery.
Artwork For Stamp Designs
Once a subject is approved, the Postal Service relies heavily on design coordinators for the selection of artists who will execute the designs. Stamp designing is an unusual art form requiring exacting skill in portraying a subject within very small dimensions. Due to the demands of stamp design and reproduction requirements, it is our policy not to review nor accept unsolicited artwork.
Professional artists who may wish to be considered for a design assignment should request a copy of the "Creating U.S. Postage Stamps" brochure at the following address:
Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee
Stamp Development
US Postal Service
1735 North Lynn St Rm 5013
Arlington VA 22209-6432
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Members of the Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee
14 Members (as of 10/03)
BRICK, CARY R.
Retired U.S. Congressional Staff.
Adjunct Professor of Government and History
BROCK, MICHAEL R.
Graphic Designer
Michael Brock Design
DAVIS, MEREDITH J.
Professor/Department Head
School of Design
North Carolina State University
EYNON, DAVID L.
Writer
FIRSTENBERG, JEAN PICKER
Director & Chief Executive Officer
American Film Institute
HARRIS, SYLVIA
Graphic Design Planner, Author, and Professor
HEYMAN, I. MICHAEL
Chancellor Emeritus, University of California, Berkeley;
Secretary Emeritus, Smithsonian Institution
HOTCHNER, JOHN M.
Office Director, Consular Affairs, US Department of State;
Philatelic Writer, Editor, Lecturer & Judge American Philatelic Society Board
LEWIS, DR. C. DOUGLAS
VICE CHAIRPERSON
Curator of Sculpture and Decorative Arts,
National Gallery of Art; Professor, University
Honors Program, University of Maryland
MALDEN, KARL
Actor
NOELKE, DR. VIRGINIA M.
CHAIRPERSON
Historian & Professor of History
Angelo State University
PHELPS, RICHARD F.
Television Sports Commentator
ROBINSON, RONALD A.
Former Chairman & Chief Executive Officer
Cranford, Johnson, Robinson, Woods
SANTANA, MARIA E.
Division President/Executive Creative Director
Parham/Santana, Inc. - New York, NY
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Criteria For Stamp Subject Selection
(Updated 8/01)
The U.S. Postal Service and the members of the Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee (CSAC) have set certain basic criteria used in determining the eligibility of subjects for commemoration on U.S. stamps and stationery. These criteria first were formulated about the time of Postal Reorganization in the early 1970s and have been refined and expanded gradually since then.
Following are the 12 major areas now guiding subject selection:
- It is a general policy that U.S. postage stamps and stationery primarily will feature American or American-related subjects.
- No living person shall be honored by portrayal on U.S. postage.
- Commemorative stamps or postal stationery items honoring individuals usually will be issued on or in conjunction with significant anniversaries of their birth, but no postal item will be issued sooner than ten years after the individual's death. The only exception to the ten-year rule is the issuance of stamps honoring deceased U.S. presidents. They may be honored with a memorial stamp on the first birth anniversary following death.
- Events of historical significance shall be considered for commemoration only on anniversaries in multiples of 50 years.
- Only events, persons, and themes of widespread national appeal and significance will be considered for commemoration. Events, persons or themes of local or regional significance may be recognized by a philatelic or special postal cancellation, which may be arranged through the local postmaster.
- Stamps or stationery items shall not be issued to honor fraternal, political, sectarian, or service/charitable organizations. Stamps or stationery shall not be issued to promote or advertise commercial enterprises or products. Commercial products or enterprises might be used to illustrate more general concepts related to American culture.
- Stamps or stationery items shall not be issued to honor cities, towns, municipalities, counties, primary or secondary schools, hospitals, libraries, or similar institutions. Due to the limitations placed on annual postal programs and the vast number of such locales, organizations and institutions in existence, it would be difficult to single out any one for commemoration.
- Requests for observance of statehood anniversaries will be considered for commemorative postage stamps only at intervals of 50 years from the date of the state's first entry into the Union. Requests for observance of other state-related or regional anniversaries will be considered only as subjects for postal stationery, and again only at intervals of 50 years from the date of the event.
- Stamps or stationery items shall not be issued to honor religious institutions or individuals whose principal achievements are associated with religious undertakings or beliefs.
- Stamps or postal stationery items with added values, referred to as "semi-postals," shall be issued every two years in accordance with Public Law 106253. Semi-postals will not be considered as part of the commemorative program and separate criteria will apply.
- Requests for commemoration of universities and other institutions of higher education shall be considered only for stamped cards and only in connection with the 200th anniversaries of their founding.
- No stamp shall be considered for issuance if one treating the same subject has been issued in the past 50 years. The only exceptions to this rule are traditional themes such as national symbols and holidays.
Ideas for stamp subjects that meet the criteria may be addressed to the Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee; Stamp Development; US Postal Service; 1735 North Lynn St Rm 5013; Arlington VA 22209-6432. Subjects should be submitted at least three years in advance of the proposed date of issue to allow sufficient time for consideration and for design and production, if the subject is approved.
The selection of subjects for U.S. postage stamps and stationery is a difficult task since only a limited number of new commemorative items can be issued annually. To help in this selection process, the Postmaster General established the Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee (CSAC) over 40 years ago. Members are appointed to the Committee by the Postmaster General. They reflect a wide range of educational, artistic, historical and professional expertise.
Once a subject is approved, the Postal Service relies heavily on design coordinators for the selection of artists who will execute the designs. Stamp designing is an unusual art form requiring exacting skill in portraying a subject within very small dimensions. Due to the demands of stamp design and reproduction requirements, it is our policy not to review or accept unsolicited artwork.
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