Today while we await the Total Solar Eclipse this afternoon, my blog post topic is the 2017 August 21 Eclipse Pictorial Postmarks Challenge. First of all, we are kicking off the new week! We’ve got references to the current USPS Postal Bulletin, Linn’s Stamp News, Collect Postmarks, and even a link over to the Library of Congress blog post today on Looking to the Sky: Solar Eclipse 2017.
Eclipse Pictorial Postmarks Challenge
The blog post title today is focusing on the challenge of getting as many of the August 21, 2017, Eclipse Pictorial Postmarks! There may be additional postmarks in a future edition(s) of the Postal Bulletin adding to the challenge of having a complete listing. My plans are to post an additional blog post as they become available.
From the August 17, 2017, USPS Postal Bulletin
To give you an idea of just how many August 21, 2017 Eclipse Pictorial Postmarks there are, I’m including the below image from the current Postal Bulletin 22474, 08-17-2017. “The following pictorial postmarks are not extended, but grouped together since the artwork and date are the same.” The USPS Postal Bulletin is the official listing of Pictorial Postmarks.
Other Eclipse Pictorial Postmarks appearing in other sources may end up appearing in future USPS Postal Bulletins. I’m planning on having least one future blog post on the Eclipse Pictorial Postmarks Challenge.
Linn’s Stamp News
Over at Linns.com, there is an article from August 17 on Postmark Pursuit by Michael Baadke. He does a great job of listing additional Eclipse Pictorial Postmarks as well as showing those in the USPS Postal Bulletin. In it, he mentions there will be more too! “Additional eclipse postmarks were listed previously, and more are expected in the next Postmark Pursuit.”
Collect Postmarks Eclipse Postmark Map Graphical Map Interface
There is an Eclipse Postmark Map at Collect Postmarks site that has its own graphical map interface! As of posting their interactive map is showing “over a hundred postmarks available from the @USPS”. They are listing them with a West-to-East order.
In Conclusion
As I close out today’s post, special thanks to my stamp club buddies Jimmy, and to Bruce, for their helpful suggestions, including this link to the Library of Congress blog today on Looking to the Sky: Solar Eclipse 2017.
If you are wanting to take on the challenge my suggestion is to begin sending off now. Plan on sending off for additional Eclipse Pictorial Postmarks once they are available in the listing.
Here’s to Happy Viewing this afternoon!
Anchors Aweigh,
Helen
2017 August 21 Eclipse Pictorial Postmarks Challenge Attribution & Thank you to the following who are referenced today
Postal Bulletin 22474, 08-17-2017 Pictorial Postmarks Announcement
Linns.com Postmark Pursuit — By Michael Baadke, Coast-to-coast eclipse postmarks include ‘landfall’ marking in Oregon, August 17, 2017.
WPS stamp club buddies, Jimmy, Bruce
Library of Congress blog – Looking to the Sky: Solar Eclipse 2017,
Image shown, Collect Postmarks Eclipse Postmark Map Graphical Map Interface
Twitter @CollectPmks
