With a sense of relief, I can say I’ve never been to prison…at least, not yet. I have a number of acquaintances who have. Lots of them. Admittedly, I don’t really know them but they’ve sent me a goodly amount of mail.
They are inmates in prisons around the country who have read my column in a local paper. Their perspectives are interesting. Understand, I don’t differentiate. A reader’s a reader. In the eyes of editors and publishers, that’s increased circulation.
Prison mail is easy to identify. The envelopes have names and return addresses followed by a series of numbers and the letters “BOP” standing for Bureau of Prisons. They come from places such as Marion, IL; Norfolk, MA; Vacaville, CA; or Leavenworth, KS.
Years ago, I had particular correspondence from a prisoner in Marion – the same place holding mobster John Gotti. The man sent lots of letters chatting about my column. In one he asked for my help. He lamented his stamp collection being confiscated in a shakedown and not returned....
The guy was doing two life terms plus 235 years. Clearly, his crime was something well north of jaywalking. Still, I thought “why not?” After all, stamps are an artistic window to the world – a pastime worth pursuing, especially for someone locked in a cell for life.
On his behalf I contacted the warden. The warden didn’t take my call but his office transferred me to an Assistant Warden. In an engaging tone, I said I thought it would be nice if the prisoner had his stamp collection returned. The assistant warden vociferously explained how, in prison, such items are traded like money for drugs and such. He followed that with language I can’t include here. Yikes.
For as long as stamps and coins have been produced, they have been miniature messengers about everything from exotic lands; explorers; major events; and nationalistic propaganda. They are, in effect, an escape. I know…a dicey word in prison.
Every country that has risen to power has produced stamps and coins extolling their military might. From seagoing frigates of the 1800s to today’s advanced fighter jets, collectibles showcase them. Rogue countries such as Cuba, North Korea and Iran even issue scathing stamps underscoring their military might with anti-American messages.
During World War II, Germany was uniquely adept at issuing stamps showing their soldiers shooting machine guns, throwing grenades, tanks firing against the enemy, Stuka dive bomber planes attacking targets and much more.
Coins too have become marketing emissaries showcasing many a national milestone and/or achievement. I’ve wondered how such coins or stamps are perceived by those in prison – people who may never be able to physically see or experience the depicted topic.
A disparate case in point would be the current series of US dollar golden coins celebrating particular inventions/creations from each US state. The “American Innovation” coins are curious because they have little chance of being seen by anyone, prisoner or not. That’s because, even though the US Mint is producing millions of them, none are out for general circulation. The coins are only available to those who buy them for a premium well above face-value directly from the Mint. Such are not the things on which a prisoner is likely to spend what little money they may have.
The “innovations” featured on the 2023 dollar coins include, from Ohio, two hands grasped together and a broken chain representing the Underground Railroad. The Louisiana coin displays a Higgins landing craft built there during World War II. The Indiana dollar shows classic and modern race cars saluting the annual Indianapolis race. And, the Mississippi coin features a pair of human lungs with surgeons performing the first lung transplant which took place in that state.
Again, the likelihood of a prisoner (or anyone else for that matter) seeing one of those dollar coins is slim. Alternately, a prisoner might be more inclined to collect a stamp produced by Iran in 1979 after 66 Americans were taken prisoner at the US Embassy in Tehran. That propagandized stamp showed a blindfolded American hostage in front of a burning American flag with Iranians storming the embassy gates. Along the side are the words “The Takeover Of The US Spy Den.”
The American hostages were held captive for 444 days – something many incarcerated in prisons can surely identify with. Then again, I suppose that stamp too might be considered contraband.
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