Until 1971, the Post Office was an executive branch department, and its rates and regulations were written directly into federal law, by Congress. Greeting cards were considered commercially printed matter, therefore eligible for the third-class rate of 3¢. Everyone’s Aunt Martha loved saving 25%, and no Congressman was going to take Aunt Martha’s discount away.
Furthermore, third-class letters had to be sent unsealed, so that postal clerks could verify that it was indeed a printed card. This started causing problems with the high-speed letter-sorting machinery that the Post Office was starting to use in the early 1960s.
So the Post Office Department decided to issue a first-class 4¢ Christmas stamp. Aunt Martha loved a more Christmas-y stamp (the current 3¢ stamp was a heavily-inked purple Statue of Liberty stamp), so she started mailing sealed, first-class cards, and the Post Office made a lot more money.
jasonsnakelover over 4 years ago
Why issue a pilot’s license when they can’t even pinpoint the guy?
Question from yesterday’s strip remains as to whether or not they celebrate Hanukkah every year in the White House.
Take care and may God bless.
Templo S.U.D. over 4 years ago
I thought it would’ve been Clement Moore who did the first description of St. Nicholas and the sleigh.
dlasher over 4 years ago
The story behind the first US Christmas stamp:
Until 1971, the Post Office was an executive branch department, and its rates and regulations were written directly into federal law, by Congress. Greeting cards were considered commercially printed matter, therefore eligible for the third-class rate of 3¢. Everyone’s Aunt Martha loved saving 25%, and no Congressman was going to take Aunt Martha’s discount away.
Furthermore, third-class letters had to be sent unsealed, so that postal clerks could verify that it was indeed a printed card. This started causing problems with the high-speed letter-sorting machinery that the Post Office was starting to use in the early 1960s.
So the Post Office Department decided to issue a first-class 4¢ Christmas stamp. Aunt Martha loved a more Christmas-y stamp (the current 3¢ stamp was a heavily-inked purple Statue of Liberty stamp), so she started mailing sealed, first-class cards, and the Post Office made a lot more money.
(I am a former stamp collector.)
zerotvus over 4 years ago
was santa given 001? license to steal, milk and cookies.
Gameguy49 Premium Member over 4 years ago
I’d hope that Santa’s flying has been re-tested lately.
Gent over 4 years ago
The sleds of the gods! That’s what the ancient astronaut theorists suggest!
WCraft Premium Member over 4 years ago
…and if they were issuing “forever stamps” in 1962; people would still be using them!
craigwestlake over 4 years ago
How can you safely give a license to a guy that flies a sleigh and plays with elves?…
The Pro from Dover over 4 years ago
And the next day an atheist filed a lawsuit about spending taxpayer money on a Christmas postage stamp.