Selection Guidelines
The U.S. Postal Service and the members of the Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee (CSAC) use the following criteria to determine the eligibility of subjects for commemoration on all U.S. stamps and stationery.
1. As a general policy, U.S. postage stamps and stationery primarily will feature American or American-related subjects. Other subjects can be considered if they have had a significant impact on American history or culture.
2. The Postal Service will consider honoring living men and women who have made extraordinary contributions to American society and culture. These remarkable individuals through their transformative achievements in their respective fields will have made enduring contributions to the United States of America.
3. Commemorative stamps or postal stationery honoring individuals usually will be issued to celebrate births, anniversaries, and/or significant contributions.
4. A memorial stamp will be issued honoring each U.S. president following his or her death.
5. Events of historical significance shall be considered for commemoration on anniversaries in multiples of 50 years.
6. Themes of widespread national appeal and significance that reflect our nation’s inclusiveness, events, and persons will be considered. Official postal cancellations may be requested through the local postmaster for significant local events or commemorations.
7. Statehood anniversary commemorative stamps will be issued at intervals of 50 years from the date of the state's entry into the Union. Requests for observance of other state-related or regional anniversaries will be considered as subjects for postal stationery at intervals of 50 years from the date of the event.
8. Universities and other institutions of higher education will be considered for stamped cards in connection with the 200th anniversaries of their founding.
9. A subject will not typically be considered if a stamp on the same subject has been issued in the past 50 years. The exceptions to this criterion are traditional themes such as national symbols and holidays.
10. The stamp program commemorates positive contributions to American life, history, and culture; disasters will not be commemorated on U.S. postage stamps or stationery.
11. The following are not considered eligible for commemoration: government agencies, localities, non-profit organizations, associations, and similar entities. Stamps or stationery items shall not be issued to honor religious institutions or individuals whose principal achievements are associated with religious undertakings or beliefs.
12. Stamps may be issued for the major military services (Air Force, Army, Navy, and Marines) on 50-year anniversaries (or multiples) of their current organizational structure. Stamps for the major service academies will be considered on a case-by-case basis for 50-year anniversaries (or multiples). Due to the large number of individual units with the military services, stamps will not be issued to honor individual groups or units within the military.
Read more about this topic: Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee
Famous quotes containing the word selection:
“It is the highest and most legitimate pride of an Englishman to have the letters M.P. written after his name. No selection from the alphabet, no doctorship, no fellowship, be it of ever so learned or royal a society, no knightship,—not though it be of the Garter,—confers so fair an honour.”
—Anthony Trollope (1815–1882)