The Simpsons On Stamps!

Ways To Collect The Latest Additions To The 2009 U.S. Stamp Program

Apr 12, 2009 David Chiu

The Simpsons, America's favorite cartoon family created by Matt Groening, will soon be appearing at your post office.

On May 7 the loveable and quirky characters from one of TV's longest running series will be honored on a series of postage stamps . The announcement was made on April 9 as the show is celebrating its 20th anniversary. Each of the five stamps is devoted to a Simpson: Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie.

"We are emotionally moved by the Postal Service selecting us rather than making the lazy choice of someone who has benefited society," says James L. Brooks, one of the show's executive producers, in a USPS press release.

The new stamps is a continuation of the pop culture trend in the Postal Service's stamp program that started with the massively popular Elvis issue in 1993. Over the years subjects such as the Muppets, Disney characters, comic book heroes like Superman and Spider-Man, and most recently Star Wars have appeared on commemorative stamps.

As part of the announcement, the Postal Service is also asking the public to vote for their favorite Simpson stamp online at www.usps.com/simpsons, which is happening now and will end on May 14.

So for both collectors and show fans, here are a variety of options of how to collect The Simpsons:

Stamps And Postal Cards

The Simpsons are being sold as a booklet of 20 stamps with five designs, carrying a total face value of $8.80 (Remember the postal rate goes from 42 to 44 cents as of May 11). Adding to the collector's aspect of the release are four different booklet covers each featuring a different character (Marge and Maggie share one booklet cover together). Also being sold are postal cards, which already features postage and has a blow-up image of the stamp on the other side. A set of 20 cards sells for $14.95.

First Day Covers

The Postal Service is selling two different sets of first day covers related to this issue. The first is a set of five envelopes each with a different stamp and a cancellation mark of a bowling ball dropping on Homer's foot. The other set is a set of five envelopes with a digital color cancellation featuring the entire family. The cancellation marks have The Simpsons logo, the date and the place of the issue The regular set sells for $4.10; the set with the colored postmark goes for $7.50

If you prefer to do it the old fashioned way, you could put the stamps on your own envelope and have the post office do that. You should check back in with the USPS Web site to find out where to send your covers to be cancelled.

How the success of The Simpsons stamps in terms of sale and popularity compare to the Elvis stamp is still early to tell. Nevertheless, this release is a major highlight of the 2009 stamp program that will also honor later in the year Bob Hope, Gary Cooper and early TV shows.

The copyright of the article The Simpsons On Stamps! in Antiques & Collectibles is owned by David Chiu. Permission to republish The Simpsons On Stamps! in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.