Piece image

99% Invisible #47- US Postal Service Stamps (Standard 4:30 version)

From: Roman Mars
Series: 99% Invisible (Standard Length)
Length: 04:30

Embed_button
They are NOT tiny paintings. Read the full description.

99invisible-logo-square-for_prx_small

[For Director's Cut, go to: http://www.prx.org/pieces/89166-99-invisible-47-us-postal-service-stamps-direc]

Stamps design takes, on average, a year to a year and a half, from conception to execution. Unfortunately, most of the stamps we encounter on a day-to-day basis are the rather predictable flag, bell, and love stamps, but there are some really fantastic commemorative stamps, which are supremely functional and affordable tiny works of art.

To determine what should go on a US stamp, the Citizens Stamp Advisory Committee combs through nearly 50,000 suggestions per year offered by the general public. Once the subjects are chosen and approved by the Postmaster General, they are assigned to a handful of art directors to be designed.

There are loads guidelines to help stamp subject selection, but one of the big rules recently changed. In 2012, the first living person will be commemorated on an official USPS stamp.

Also in the 99% Invisible (Standard Length) series

Piece image

99% Invisible #70- The Great Red Car Conspiracy (Standard 4:30 version) (04:30)
From: Roman Mars

If you think you know this story, you probably have it backwards.
Piece image

99% Invisible #71- In and Out of LOVE (Standard 4:30 version) (04:30)
From: Roman Mars

Follow a breadcrumb trail of black wax and wheel marks to a secret war over public space.
Piece image

99% Invisible #68- Built For Speed (standard 4:30 version) (04:30)
From: Roman Mars

How long are lines on a highway?
Piece image

99% Invisible #66- Kowloon Walled City (Standard 4:30 version) (04:30)
From: Roman Mars

The densest place in human history.
Piece image

99% Invisible #65- Razzle Dazzle (standard 4:30 version) (04:30)
From: Roman Mars

This is probably not what you think of when you think of camouflage.
Piece image

99% Invisible #63- The Political Stage (Standard 4:30 version) (04:30)
From: Roman Mars

Seven-and-a-half secrets from the campaign trail.
Piece image

99% Invisible #62- Q2 (Standard 4:30 version) (04:31)
From: Roman Mars

The access to your queue has been queued.
Piece image

99% Invisible #61- A Series of Tubes (Standard 4:30 version) (04:29)
From: Roman Mars

A last mile problem and the pneumatic solution.

Piece Description

[For Director's Cut, go to: http://www.prx.org/pieces/89166-99-invisible-47-us-postal-service-stamps-direc]

Stamps design takes, on average, a year to a year and a half, from conception to execution. Unfortunately, most of the stamps we encounter on a day-to-day basis are the rather predictable flag, bell, and love stamps, but there are some really fantastic commemorative stamps, which are supremely functional and affordable tiny works of art.

To determine what should go on a US stamp, the Citizens Stamp Advisory Committee combs through nearly 50,000 suggestions per year offered by the general public. Once the subjects are chosen and approved by the Postmaster General, they are assigned to a handful of art directors to be designed.

There are loads guidelines to help stamp subject selection, but one of the big rules recently changed. In 2012, the first living person will be commemorated on an official USPS stamp.