Living Persons on U.S. Stamps Raises Concerns

"Plans to announce the first living person to be pictured on a U.S. stamp are being delayed because some members of the U.S. Postal Service board of governors have expressed concerns about the idea, Linn's Stamp News reports in its July 16 issue," according to stamp columnist John Weigle of the Ventura County Star.

Weigle goes on to say, "The board of governors expects to discuss the subject at a meeting in August or sooner, Linn's said. Linn's said it isn't clear how many of the board's nine members have questioned the plan, but it had comments from three. James C. Miller III of Virginia, nominated by President Barack Obama for a third term, said at his confirmation hearing that picturing living people on stamps 'would be a very bad idea. ... For every friend you would make, you would make thousands of enemies.'

Thurgood Marshall Jr., the board chairman is quoted as saying he's intrigued by the idea to increase revenue by selling more stamps, but said he's "also of the opinion that the unique honor of being depicted on a U.S. postage stamp should be the result of very careful vetting." He said he'd like to hear more from the Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee and Postal Service managers.

Shown above, President Obama on a bogus U.S. postage stamp.

Currently, past presidents are only eligible to be on a stamp on their first birthday after their deaths. Under the new policy, presidents could receive a stamp like the one above while they are still alive.

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