Birth. Stamps. Death.

The Road to Boston 2026: Zeppelins, Air Mail, and More with Jim Hill & David Ball

With the World Stamp Expo officially kicking-off tomorrow—Saturday, May 23, 2026—we're thrilled to chat in this episode with Zeppelin mail expert Jim Hill and fellow aero/astrophilatelist and friend of the show, David Ball, current President of the American Air Mail Society (AAMS). In addition to opening some excellent listener mail, we chat with Jim and David about a new project debuting next week in Boston: a first-of-its-kind digital zeppelin and airship catalogue long in the works by a team of expert collectors and postal historians. We also hear from David and Jim about the litany of killer talks, programming, and other aerophilatelic goings-on people can expect to find at the show. Buckle up folks, because the World Stamp Expo's almost here! Links: Boston 2026 (World Stamp Expo) [https://web.cvent.com/event/bbbdc1d9-e50e-44dd-8bef-eb36c9d1251f/summary] Philosateleia (our favorite local post!) [https://www.philosateleia.com/] Background on local posts (Wikipedia) [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Local_post] Local Post Collectors Society (LPCS) [https://www.localpostcollectors.org/] The American Air Mail Society (AAMS) [https://www.americanairmailsociety.org/] The U.S.S. Los Angeles, a 1920s-30s US Navy Airship (Reparations Zeppelins era) [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Los_Angeles_(ZR-3)] Cheryl Ganz's Maynard Sundman Lecture on the Graf Zeppelin issues (Smithsonian) [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dRnsqQCcT6w] Chery's book on the 1933 Century of Progress (Worlds Fair) (Amazon) [https://us.amazon.com/1933-Chicago-Worlds-Fair-Progress-ebook/dp/B00MOYT646/ref=sr_1_1?_encoding=UTF8&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.hrAkNjWpFzW-7Kh2bwMV-q-L1I22l5b7wlN4u-FZq1g._AQbuy6lekPw1-LDc9sqrhxz12SJstIwZq__GB4epGE&dib_tag=se&keywords=B001H6WQ76&nsdOptOutParam=true&qid=1779463538&s=digital-text&shoppingPortalEnabled=true&sr=1-1] The Union Army's Civil War-era Ballon Corps (Arlington Public Library) [https://library.arlingtonva.us/2023/05/24/union-army-balloon-corp/] The Zeppelin Collectors Group (Facebook) [https://www.facebook.com/groups/ZeppelinCollectors/] As always, we'd love to hear from you, especially if you're writing from Boston! Listeners who write to us from the World Stamp Expo will receive a special thank you item. Write us at: P.O. Box 26 Grant Central Station New York, NY 10163 Or digitally, at: birthstampsdeath@gmail.com

The Road to Boston 2026: Lisa Bobb-Semple (USPS) on Celebrating the Best of America

Our count-down to the World Stamp Expo in Boston (May 23-30) continues folks! And we are absolutely thrilled to have a very special guest on the show this week: Lisa Bobb-Semple, Director of Stamp Services at the United States Postal Service. Lisa's a 20+ year veteran of the USPS, and was appointed to lead the national stamp program in 2023. In this rich conversation, Lisa tells us all about the considerable work that goes on behind the scenes at USPS—over years—to bring a stamp idea from basic concept, through CSAC approval, vetting, design, and production, and the vital role stamps continue to play in "celebrating the best" of the nation's history and people. Lisa also gives us an insider's view of the National Postal Forum, the highly anticipated Postcrossing stamp, and the exciting first day ceremonies we can expect in Boston starting next week. Links: The Boston 2026 World Stamp Expo (Expo) [https://web.cvent.com/event/bbbdc1d9-e50e-44dd-8bef-eb36c9d1251f/summary] Stamps to be unveiled in Boston (USPS) [https://about.usps.com/newsroom/national-releases/2026/0331ma-usps-announces-stamp-issues-for-world-stamp-show.htm] The Postcrossing Issue (Postcrossing Blog/USPS) [https://www.postcrossing.com/blog/2026/03/31/a-new-postcrossing-stamp-from-the-usa] The Stamp Encore Contest (USPS) [https://www.stampsforever.com/vote] The USPS Semi-quincentennial (USPS) [https://www.usps.com/250/welcome.htm] 250 Years of Delivering Stamp Pane (USPS) [https://store.usps.com/store/product/250-years-of-delivering-stamps-S_487104] The (2026) Harriet Powers Issue (USPS) [https://about.usps.com/newsroom/national-releases/2026/0213ma-harriet-powers-stamps-to-be-issued-feb-28.htm] More about Lisa's work and her USPS journey (UVA) [https://news.darden.virginia.edu/2024/08/26/how-does-the-postal-service-choose-the-next-stamp-this-darden-grad-knows/] The World Expo Issue (USPS) [https://www.stampsforever.com/stories/the-collectors-are-coming-to-the-boston-2026-world-stamp-show] As always, we'd love to hear from you; write to the show at: P.O. Box 26 Grant Central Station New York, NY 10163 Or digitally, at: birthstampsdeath@gmail.com

The Road to Boston 2026: Graham Beck on the World Stamp Expo

We are long overdue to catch up listeners, and very glad to be back in your feeds after a busy April—especially to cover such a riveting topic with returning guest and friend of the pod, Graham Beck (Exploring Stamps, CSAC, piXPost). Graham's helping us kick-off our "Road to Boston" series, where—in the weeks ahead—we'll learn all about the much-anticipated World Stamp Expo taking place in Boston May 23-30th. As you'll hear, it's going to be big—and filled with all sorts of philatelic fun and activities. We also speak with Graham about the latest on all things piXPost, new Postcrossing stamps being unveiled at the show, and his collaboration with the modern Scott Catalogues—as well as the Exploring Stamps Studio. You won't want to miss this one. As always, we'd also love to hear for you; write to the show at: Birth. Stamps. Death. P.O. Box 26 Grand Central Station New York, NY 10163 Links: Boston 2026 information [https://web.cvent.com/event/bbbdc1d9-e50e-44dd-8bef-eb36c9d1251f/summary] Boston 2026 program details [https://web.cvent.com/event/bbbdc1d9-e50e-44dd-8bef-eb36c9d1251f/websitePage:235944b0-ebc7-4aea-8a46-d8a150f475a5] The soon-to-be-released Postcrossing Stamps (USPS/Postcrossing) [https://www.postcrossing.com/blog/2026/03/31/a-new-postcrossing-stamp-from-the-usa] Exploring Stamps and Scott (Graham's Youtube channel) [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nyDOALGWHvM] The piXPost app [https://www.pixpost.net/] An intro. to international stamp expos in the United States (Mystic) [https://info.mysticstamp.com/learn/history-of-international-stamp-exhibitions-in-the-u-s/] CSAC's work (USPS) [https://about.usps.com/who/csac/] The storied Pony Express riders' Mochila (Smithsonian) [https://postalmuseum.si.edu/collections/object-spotlight/pony-express-mochila]

The Iconic USPS Blue Box (and other philatelic fun)

In this episode we're diving into our first batch of listener mail (much more to come folks!), as well as a topic of long-standing interest to (at least one) of our hosts: the USPS's iconic Standard Collection Box, aka the "blue box." For well over a century these sturdy steel sentinels (and their many predecessors) have helped move mail around the country's vast delivery network. And though their volume and locations continue to change, they remain a fascinating and ubiquitous fixture of American postal infrastructure—and a small but wonderful symbol of resilience and community. As always, we'd love to hear from you: write to the show and we may send you a little something in return! Birth. Stamps. Death. P.O. Box 26 Grand Central Station New York, NY 10163 Links: USPS Postal Facts on Blue Collection Boxes [https://facts.usps.com/blue-collection-boxes/] (USPS) Mail Collection Boxes: A Brief History [https://about.usps.com/who-we-are/postal-history/mail-collection-boxes.pdf](USPS) Background on early mail collection boxes in urban places [https://postalmuseum.si.edu/exhibition/customers-and-communities-serving-the-cities-overcoming-congestion/street-corner] (Smithsonian) Evolution of the Post Box [https://www.postalmuseum.org/blog/evolution-of-the-post-box/] (The Postal Museum, London) I Love Jeb Co. Mailboxes [https://ilovejebcomailboxes.com/] (A wonderful personal blog) What is a Collection Box? [https://faq.usps.com/s/article/What-is-a-Collection-Box] (USPS) Find some real-life blue boxes on PixPost [https://www.pixpost.net/] (@chrispy_stamps) Episode gallery [https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1GcblsWkaXq5NAz2YahzMbznbIMAHBvI7?usp=sharing] (including our friend Cole's Chicago snapshot of old mail boxes!)

Revisiting the Fourth Bureau Issues

In this episode we look at an iconic series of U.S. stamps, the so-called "Fourth Bureau Issues"—a quintessential example of early twentieth-century American definitives produced by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP) starting in 1922. This series ushered in major changes in both the speed and scale of stamp production—moving from flat plate to rotary presses—as well as the kinds of images that found their way onto these gorgeous issues. We're also joined by a special guest to learn a little more about the production details. As always, we'd love to receive some mail from our dear listeners. Write us at: Birth. Stamps. Death. P.O. Box 26 Grand Central Station New York, NY 10163 Note: We've received some wonderful listener mail since the recording of this episode, so if you've sent us something and we don't mention it here don't fret! We're diving into your wonderful missives and a long-awaited answer to our Irish stamp riddle in next week's episode. Links: Our Website [https://www.birthstampsdeath.com/] Our Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/birth.stamps.death/] We're very grateful to the band All Good for supplying our intro and outro music, check them out on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/allgoodband/?hl=en]and head over to Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/artist/0Wfj4DqLbeIYiGKqqFNCSS?si=dNMHBk3QR5enE4FTGENh8w] or wherever you stream your music to give them a listen. The Fourth Bureau Issues [https://postalmuseum.si.edu/exhibition/about-us-stamps-bureau-period-1894-1939-definitive-issues/fourth-bureau-issues-1922-1930] (Smithsonian) Portrait of Sioux Chief Hollow Horn Bear [https://postalmuseum.si.edu/object/npm_1980.2493.2281] (Smithsonian) Close up of the 15c Statue of Liberty Single [https://postalmuseum.si.edu/object/npm_1980.2493.2283] (Smithsonian) Close up of the 30c American Buffalo Single [https://postalmuseum.si.edu/object/npm_1980.2493.2289] (Smithsonian) $5 Head of "Freedom" Single [https://postalmuseum.si.edu/object/npm_1980.2493.7245] (Smithsonian) Our Special Guest's Hipstamp store [https://www.hipstamp.com/store/putney-stamps-quality-for-collectors] Special thanks to Rod Juell's excellent writing and research on the Fourth Bureaus, much of which we relied on for this episode.