In addition to these cool postage stamps, the Iceland Post is selling some other fun items to commemorate the volcano’s eruption.  You could also purchase a key chain, paper weight, and something interesting called a “message in a bottle”.

The Eyjafjallajökull Volcano erupting is not an every day occurrence, nor is creating silk screened postage stamps with fine grained ash from a volcano.  Iceland Post should market these postage stamps like crazy, especially for international stamp collectors!

According to the Iceland Post, “All the stamps are silkscreen printed with very fine-grained trachyandesite ash (3 microns or less) which fell at Eyjafjallajökull on April 17, 2010.  The trachyandesite magma has ca. 60% silica content and comes from a depth of 7 km with a temperature of more than 1100 degrees Celsius when it reaches the glacial ice.” 

Many people in Iceland and throughout much of Europe may want to forget the inconveniences created by the Eyjafjallajökull Volcano eruption; but these stamps sure would make a great addition to any stamp collectors collection.

Stamp Center has many postage stamps issued from Iceland.  Stop by today to see what fun stamps you can find to add to your collection!

On July 22, 2010 the Iceland Post issued three incredible postage stamps that featured three different views of the erupting Eyjafjallajökull Volcano.  Each stamp was printed in a sheet of 10.  The stamps are inscribed “Local Letter”, Letters to Europe”, and Letters to Other Countries.  Two of the postage stamps feature incredible nighttime images of the great volcano erupting.  Both postage stamps feature red molten lava, one pouring down the side of the glacier and one spewing the ash and rock high into the nighttime sky.  The daytime postage stamp shows the beautiful blanket of white snow that Iceland is known for, with the volcano shooting steam and ash high into Iceland’s crystal blue sky.  Certainly, these postage stamps showcase nature fury at it’s finest.

If you are hoping to get a chance to actually “feel” the volcanic ash, it’s unlikely that you will get to do so on these stamps though.  The information that I have regarding these particular postage stamps reports that the ash is extremely fine, so you will need to trust that it is actually embedded within the ink!

Please check back on Monday for the conclusion.

The fantastic show did not appear to last for long however and the Eyjafjallajokull Volcano returned to its normal calm state until April 14, 2010 when a huge explosion occurred.  The volcano explosion sent clouds of ash soaring high into the sky, as high as 11,000 meters!  Because of the ash, smoke, and steam that the volcano spewed, air quality was severely disrupted.  Traveling across Europe was complete chaos because all airspace and airports were closed as the plume of volcanic ash spread far into the atmosphere.  With airplanes grounded people were stranded and the ripple effect reached far beyond just Europe.  This was the highest level of air travel disruption since World War II.  By May 21, 2010, the Eyjafjallajokull Volcano was considered to be dormant once again.

Please check back on Friday for part 2.

The new postage stamp sheet contains twenty 44-cent commemorative self adhesive postage stamps.  The stamps feature a Boy Scout standing upon a summit of the “Tooth of Time” at Villa Philmonte.  He is holding a pair of binoculars while looking over the horizon; just as thousands of real Boy Scouts have done over the years.  The larger image on the stamp is that of a silhouette of a scout in the background.  He is looking through binoculars, and wearing the trademark Boy Scout hat and bandana.

As with any postage stamp issuance, it is always an honor to be represented by the United States Postal Service.  Some stamp collectors, and Boy Scout families, are already popping up via the internet stating their displeasure with the design of this particular stamp.  Being that the stamp was issued to celebrate the centennial of Boy Scouting, many feel that the important occasion should be noted on the postage stamp instead of a simple “SCOUTING” that is printed at the bottom.  Of course, BSA has remained mum regarding that issue!

Stamp Center has many different types of “Scouts” themed postage stamps from around the world for your pleasure. Stop

by today to see what you can find.

Please check back on Monday for the conclusion.

Some people argue that because Mother Teresa was a Nun, and clearly guided by her religious beliefs, that a she should not be honored with a US postage stamp.  The USPS service has stated that Mother Teresa was chosen because of her work with the poor and her acts of humanitarian relief, not because of her religious undertakings.

Stop by Stamp Center to see the interesting Mother Teresa postage stamps that we have in stock from countries like Albania, Gambia, Grenada and Congo to name a few.

During World War II, James Michener enlisted and served in the United States Navy in the Solomon Islands.  It was there that he wrote “Tales of the South Pacific”.  He anonymously mailed the book to his former publishing employer in New York City.  The book became a huge success and the story was adapted into the very popular musical “South Pacific”, which continuously ran season after season on Broadway.  In 1958, the “South Pacific” became an Oscar winning movie musical as well.

In his lifetime, James Michener published over four dozen books and was the recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom.  The United States Postal Service honored James Michener by issuing a commemorative postage stamp on May 15, 2008.  The stamp was part of the popular Distinguished Americans series which began in 2000.  If you would like to add the James Michener postage stamp in your collection, stop by Stamp Center today.

Butler is famous for bringing the Acadian and Micmac music traditions to the public. With her national appearances on CBC Television’s Singalong Jubilee, she soon became quite popular and is now regarded as the world’s best-known Acadian singer.

As a child Butler had collected stamps and appreciated their historical value. Now that she is on a stamp she feels deeply moved by the Canada Post tribute.

The fourth member of the series is Stompin’ Tom Connors. He was born in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1936. He was raised by an adoptive family on Prince Edward Island and at the age of 13 began trekking and playing music across Canada until he had his first big break in Timmins, Ontario.  His nickname “Stompin’” is due to his habit of stamping his foot while playing guitar.

Connors’ deep love for Canada comes across in many of his numerous songs.

In lieu of flower donations, the Birman family is suggesting that donations be made instead to The Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society (HIAS).  HIAS works globally to provide protection and assistance to refugee populations around the world.  According to the HIAS website, “For generation after generation, HIAS has provided essential lifesaving services to world Jewry, through its mission of rescue, reunion and resettlement.”

Due to the recent death of Nathan Birman, Alex Birman might need to reschedule his previously scheduled stamp collection buying trip to the Nashville, Tennessee area.  Please contact Stamp Center to let us know if you would like Alex to review and offer a price on your collection while he is in the Nashville area.  You may contact us to schedule a time or send us your email address so that we will be able to advise you of any potential changes in travel plans, should they arise.  You may also call us at (410) 757-5800 if you prefer.

Alex Birman looks forward to continuing on with the same passion for stamp collecting that his father so lovingly instilled in him for the many years that they worked together.

Nathan Birman
8/24/21 – 2/1/10

It was first believed that the center of the stamp ball was started around a pencil stub, but now it is believed that the stamps are wrapped around the core of a golf ball.  It took 2 years for the Club to make the enormous ball.  The giant sphere weighs in at 600 pounds and is a whopping 32 inches in diameter.  It contains 4,655,000 cancelled postage stamps. Each stamp was individually affixed to the ball, layer upon layer.

In 1955, the stamp ball was featured in the newspaper column of Ripley’s Believe It Or Not.  The next day, crowds traveled from near and far to view the ball.  From that point forward, the work on the sphere stopped.

One of the fun things about this creation is that it is accessible to the public.  If you want to touch it, it’s right there out in the open.  You should know that you are not allowed to add any stamps to the ball and not take any away either.  A mural of stamps sits behind the giant stamp ball which creates the perfect backdrop. Stamp Collectors old and young can also sort through boxes of loose stamps that are also at the site.

The World’s Largest Ball of Stamps can be seen here or you can see it in person by visiting the Myers Stamp Center, Boys Town, Omaha, Nebraska.