Here & Now Anytime 25 at 250: Stamps and 'Star-Spangled' banners
Jan 23, 2026
Daniel Piazza, chief curator of philately at the Smithsonian National Postal Museum, shares insights on the first U.S. stamps from 1847, revealing their cultural significance and how they transformed mail delivery. He explains the public's early reactions and how stamps reflect national values. Jennifer Jones, a curator at the National Museum of American History, discusses the storied history of the Star-Spangled Banner, its massive size, and its evolution into a symbol of democracy, drawing parallels to preserving both the flag and democratic ideals.
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Stamps As National Snapshots
- The 1847 U.S. stamps were among America's first mass-produced images and reflected national priorities.
- Daniel Piazza says stamps act as tiny snapshots of what a country values at a given moment.
Prepaid Postage Expanded Mail
- Switching to sender-paid postage lowered costs and drove a huge increase in mail volume.
- Daniel Piazza explains stamps' stored value made writing and sending letters far more practical.
Rarity Depends On Context
- Although millions of 1847 stamps were printed, collectors prize condition, usage, and destination.
- Daniel Piazza notes survival in quantity doesn't prevent high values for scarce, well-preserved examples.
