On April 30, 2010, the United States Postal Service (USPS) issued a set of 44-cent stamps to raise awareness about animals in shelters.  The money spent on these stamps will be matched by Halo, an animal food company, to give a million meals to animal shelters across the country.  The set of stamps consist of five dogs and five cats that were rescued and adopted from an animal shelter.  The website offers visitors a chance to find a local shelter among other tools to determine if adopting an animal is the right choice for you.  There is also merchandise from mugs to picture frames featuring these 10 stars.  These 10 are making a hit across the country with local shelters holding events and food drives.  There is a special postmark for these stamps.

This is not the first time that the USPS featured cats and dogs on stamps.  In 1982, they were featured for a holiday stamp.  In 1998, there was a set called “Bright Eyes,” and in 2002, cats and dogs were used in “Spay and Neuter” campaign.

Didn’t Easter pass already?  The holiday, yes, but according to the Christian calendar, this week is the final week of the Easter season so there is still time left to discuss the beauty and wonder of Easter postcards!

The art of Easter postcards began around 1898.  There is a celebration of the Easter postcard from 42 countries held in a different location every year.  This exhibit started in 1998 with one grandmother’s collection in a box in an attic that grew to 300 postcards.  You can send an electronic Easter postcard greeting at this site: http://www.osterkartenausstellung.at/osterkarten/en/index.php.

The pictures on Easter postcards are symbolic of the time period.  For instance, the first Easter postcards featured an oversized egg either in monochrome or color.  A portion of the postcard was blank as to leave room for the message.  This did not change until 1906 when the greeting was allowed on the back.  In the early 1900’s, before the First World War, traditional Easter symbols were pictured on the postcards such as lambs, children, and eggs.  A symbol for luck and hope, young girls were common as well as bunnies with eggs that represented prosperity.  These icons changed with the onset of the First World War as soldiers and a militant Easter bunny became the theme.  After the Second World War, the scenes changed to Jesus among sheep in the countryside and flowers.   The production of Easter postcards slowed due to the onset of other forms of communication.

There are a variety of images on the 44 cent first class postage stamp. Postal stamps have various categories, such as Legends of Hollywood, Black Heritage, Nature of America, and astrology.

Zazzle.com customizes stamps that you can send through the Postal Service. The brightly colored stamps offered by Zazzle.com have all sorts of different styles, such as the Yin Yang, Chinese Zodiac, and astrological signs. Zazzle.com also allows you to customize at no additional cost your stamps. You can upload a personal photo to be included with the astrological sign.

If you’re a stamp collector you can save the stamp for your collection. Carefully preserving stamps will enable you to sell your collection at a profit. There are several auction sites, such as delcampe.net, which specialize in stamps, even stamps with images of astrology. You can also purchase stamps at online auction sites. Since there is no middle man you’ll save money. You can add value to your stamp collection when it has a theme. You can enhance the pages with digital art, including astrological signs. Stamp collectors know the key to a valuable stamp collection is specializing on one theme.

Stamps are inexpensive, and many people enjoy collecting them. The stamp collecting hobby is a popular one. Often times, stamp collections are passed down from generation to generation. When you let your friends and neighbors know that you collect stamps, they will save their stamps for you.

The birth of the United States is an integral part of history. It is also a great idea for collectors of stamps and postcards to include in their collections. Stamp collecting is an inexpensive hobby. The start up costs are minimal compared to other hobbies.

Now that one is determined to begin collecting this type of stamp the next logical step would be their friendly neighborhood post office. The post office not only has great ideas to begin the journey; but also sells supplies. They can also update you concerning when new items will be available a well as other purchase options.

Perhaps you like to surf the internet for fun. If so, various sites offer a variety of stamps and postcards from which to choose. The United Kingdom offers a Fourth of July stamp emblazoned with red white and blue stars. The denomination is 44 cents.

If the fourth of July holds fond memories of fireworks and bright colors then animation postcards commemorating the day may be your ticket. One source has beautiful offerings for consideration. For purchase are a soldier, Betty Boop, and a young boy waving a flag as fireworks flash through the sky. Another site has antique postcards depicting a union soldier, a boy lighting sparklers, a palm tree, and two swords crossed.

America was founded partly for the citizens to have freedom of worship. A great site out there pays homage to that portion of our heritage. Stamps with biblical sayings, a patchwork flag, stars and other choices are available for purchase. These stamps are black and white. Free things are always great. For the designer in all of us one source has free fonts and templates. These can be used to create ones own July fourth masterpieces.