Posted by Ron Martini on September 12, 2000 at 18:05:06:

In Reply to: memorial stamps posted by Scotty on September 12, 2000 at 17:09:39:

Did you know?

1. The USPS does not seek public input on stamp designs? They occasionally will have a poll on completed stamps and even on occasion will ask the public for a design recommendation.

2. Did you know they took my recommendations for the 5 stamps? Holland, S, Gato, SSN, SSBN. They wanted to cover all time frames.

3. Did you know I worked as a analyist on the stamp art for over a year? Way before the Rep. (Gejdenson) from CT got involved.

4. The USPS does not design the stamps! They farm that out to graphic design companies.

5. None of the art used was original. All were from existing pictures. The SSBN started from the art on the box of the USS Ohio kit! (Permission was given.) They wanted it to be under the ice!

6. I also didn't want any hull numbers visible. But their was political pressure somewhere to get the SSN 709 (Rickover) memorialized.

7. I tried to get a committee, but they said no! It would get out of hand in a hurry and I agreed. I couldn't see a group of submariners settling on the 5 basic designs to start with. Everyone wouldhave wanted their boat/class included. I even had to sign a non-disclosure agreement! That was the sad part. All the talk on the BBS and all the letter writing was for naught as it was a done deal, but I couldn't say a word. Isn't our government a wonderful entity?

8. I think they did very well. The Gato stamp is going to become a very expensive collectors item within a short period of time. Presenting the stamps in booklet form with more information of the submarine force was something they did, that they get no credit for. Oh well. It's over.