Movies such as Mission Impossible and The Bourne Identity illustrate that we’ve long had a special fascination with spies and espionage. At the turn of the late 1800s it was Sherlock Holmes. Beginning in the 1920s, The Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew became mandatory reading for boys and girls respectively. In the 1950s, James Bond ruled. By the ‘60s, we idolized secret agents on The Man From U.N.C.L.E., T.H.E. Cat, The Avengers, The Wild, Wild West, and other TV classics.
Kids couldn’t get enough spy gadgets and secret devices. Those toys lined the shelves of stores. Even cereal boxes and Cracker Jacks included decoder rings. To fathom the iWatch technology and computer algorithms of today was all but unimaginable – entirely the realm of science fiction....
Every boy in my grade school class was engrossed with spy stuff. We created and sent secret messages and begged our parents for inventive James Bond, Zero M, or Secret Sam devices. Today, it’s encouraging to see spy-related kits created for young girls.
While spy stuff might still seem like child’s play to many, codes have become the most in-demand and profitable line of work one can now have. Those who understand computer coding can pretty much write their own ticket. Naturally, to code one also must know how to decode.
The Postal Service is having a little fun with the whole concept of mystery messages with a sheet of new postage stamps. The stamps are comprised of a block of geometric designs with seemingly random, meaningless patterns. In truth, each of the enigmatic First Class “Forever” stamps actually hides a message. A letter on one or two of the multicolored blocks might seem obvious but others will have to be deciphered. Let’s just say, the secret message on the stamps is more than meets the eye and isn’t overtly obvious.
On July 14, in Washington, DC, the stamps are appropriately being officially released at the International Spy Museum on L’Enfant Plaza. As would be expected, the museum houses the largest collection of espionage artifacts on public display.
Special First Day of Issue cancels will be available at the ceremony as well as by mail. Anyone not able to attend in person can obtain a First Day cancel by purchasing the stamps at a local post office, affixing one to a self-addressed envelope and sending that inside of a larger mailing envelope to: Mystery Message Stamp, USPS Fulfillment Services; 8300 NE Underground Drive; Suite 300; Kansas City, MO 64144-9900.
There is no charge for the postmark but all requests for the cancel must be received by the USPS no later than November 14. The specially canceled envelopes will be returned via regular mail. (That is unless they are intercepted by agent Maxwell Smart, James West or Mr. Waverly. Fans of ‘60s TV spy shows and my brother in particular will know of what I speak.)
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Barring escalation of the delta variant of the Coronavirus, and with vaccinations on the upswing, there appears to be a ray of light toward normalcy surrounding the pandemic in the US. One surprise benefit of the recent quarantine has been the resurgence in hobbies – specifically stamp and coin collecting. Some dealers have reported demand increasing to where prices for rare and collectible stamps have surged 15 to 20 percent over the past 15 months.
Those values and increased demand will be on display when, after a two-year hiatus, the Great American Stamp Show finally returns. Being held in Rosemont, IL from August 12 – 15, the show is free and open to the public. (Masks may be required for those not vaccinated.)
The show will host at least 75 retail dealers – probably more by showtime – 25 collecting societies and over 500 exhibit frames on display. Pent-up demand for getting out is sure to attract substantial crowds to the Stephens Convention Center near Chicago where the show takes place.
A special draw will be a First Day of Issue ceremony for the upcoming “Backyard Games” First Class postage stamps to be issued at the show.
For more information or to preregister, log onto www.stamps.org/GASS.
For more collecting advice, visit www.peterexford.blogspot.com