Postage stamps may be little works of art, but they have practical requirements that must be met. The first is that it includes the monetary amount the stamp is valued at. The Universal Postal Union requires that stamps used for international mail use Arabic numerals (1, 2, 3, etc.). The country name must also be included. There are also anti-counterfeiting measures taken. There are other textural elements that may be included like a statement of purpose (“postage” or “official mail”), a plate number, the name of the person portrayed, the occasion being commemorated, the year of stamp issue, or national motto.

There are four major categories for graphic elements on a stamp: Portrait bust, Emblem, Numeric, and Pictorial.

Early stamps typically used the portrait bust and emblem. The American flag has been depicted in a variety of ways since the 1950’s. The most popular category today is the pictorial. The images may represent real-world objects, be allegories, or abstract designs.

The choice of stamp designs to be entered into circulation, are chosen by the issuing government. Therefore, the stamps tend to depict the government favorably. After a backlash in the 1940’s, an independent Citizen’s Stamp Advisory Committee was created. The Committee reviews proposals and makes recommendations. Sometimes the public is polled for their choice. This is how the most popular stamp, the Elvis Presley stamp, was chosen.

A commemorative issue is developed to celebrate a special event. Commemoratives are used in circulation, but are typically released for the love of the collector.

A well-designed stamp isn’t always appreciated by the general public, but the philatelic press does take notice. There are publications that will headline the most interesting new stamps and some even take popularity polls.

Have an idea you’d like to submit for a stamp design, check out the criteria here.

Tomorrow starts my challenge, a stamp design each day. So check back and see what ideas make the day.

Stamp collecting isn’t always about the value or rarity of the stamp, Sometimes people collect stamps because they love the subject matter or the art on the stamp. Here is a list of the 25 most popular stamps collected.

1. Elvis 1993 124.1 million
2. Wonders of America 2006 87.5 million
3. Wildflowers 1992 76.1 million
4. Rock & Roll/Rhythm & Blues 1993 75.9 million
5. DC Comics Super Heroes 2006 73.0 million
6. Greetings From America 2002 71.4 million
7. Insects and Spiders 1999 61.0 million
8. Art of Disney: Romance 2006 57.2 million
9. Legends of Baseball 2000 53.9 million
10. Art of Disney: Celebration 2005 52.8 million
11. Baseball Playing Fields 2001 49.0 million
12. Art of Disney: Friendship 2004 47.7 million
13. Civil War 1995 46.6 million
14. Legends of the West 1994 46.4 million
15. Marilyn Monroe 1995 46.4 million
16. Advances in Aviation 2005 45.8 million
17. Bugs Bunny 1997 44.1 million
18. Lunar New Year SS 2005 42.7 million
19. Comic Strip Classics 1995 40.8 million
20. Jim Henson: Muppets 2005 40.6 million
21. Cloudscapes 2004 40.1 million
22. Stars and Stripes 2000 40.0 million
23. Baseball Sluggers 2006 39.5 million
24. Summer Olympics 1992 39.5 million
25. Lucille Ball 2001 38.7 million

When I think of valuable art, I usually think of Monet, Picasso, Van Gogh. But did you know the most valuable stamp in the world is worth $2.3M? The stamp that holds this honor is the 1855 Sweden Three Skilling Banco. One of the most famous stamps is the 1918 Curtis Jenny (inverted), valued at $200,000. So the next time you are cleaning out Grandma’s attic, don’t just toss those old letters, you might be tossing a fortune.

The first postage stamp was released in 1840 in Britain, the Penny Black, which pictured the young Queen Victoria. The first U.S. issued stamps were a 5 cent red-brown Benjamin Franklin stamp and a 10 cent black George Washington stamp in 1847. A stamp expert is called a Philatelic. Stamps are still collected and valued by people all around the world. Commemorative stamps have been produced in many sizes and shapes, with the first triangular postage stamp issued in 1997 and the first round stamp in 2000. In 1902, the first commemorative stamp to honor women featured Martha Washington and was valued at 8 cents. In 1993, America voted for the first Elvis Presley commemorative stamp, valued at 29 cents.

Visit Arago, the National Postal Museum at http://arago.si.edu