Welcome to Stamp Show Here Today Episode #188
Today we are discussing the history of women’s right to vote and women’s equality day, Franking, and President Trump taking on the UPU. We also have an update on the Canada E-commerce awards, postal news, new issues; including an update on the Hot wheels stamps release date, and upcoming shows. Enjoy.
Episode #188 Show Notes
Hosts – Tom, Caj, Scott, Mark, Greg, Dawn
This Week in History – Woodrow Wilson was picketed by suffragists outside the White House
The suffragists were demanding Wilson support an amendment to the Constitution guaranteeing women the right to vote.
Although Wilson had paid lip service to suffragists during campaign races, he was only luke warm to the idea after the election, despite being a former teacher at a women’s college and having two daughters who both were suffragettes.
On this day however the suffragists, who Wilson tipped his hat to as he left the White House, had become increasingly disruptive and even started carrying signs protesting World War I. This lead to a clash with some angered spectators and many of the women were arrested and jailed.
Some of the women that were arrested started a hunger strike and had to be force fed by their captors. Wilson; distraught by the hunger strikes ultimately agreed to an amendment in 1918 and two years later the 19th amendment was passed by Congress giving women the right to vote.
So on August 26, 1920 the 19th amendment to the constitution was passed by Congress, and on this same day in 1971 Congress, by joint resolution, declared August 26 to be Women’s Equality Day.
The women’s rights movement has its roots all the way back in 1840, when women were denied access to the convention floor of the London World Anti-Slavery Convention.
In time this led to the first woman’s rights convention held in Seneca Falls, NY which drew 200 women and presented 12 resolutions that women should be equal in status to men socially, economically, legally and representatively.
All but the 9th resolution were passed unanimously. The 9th resolution which stated “that it is the duty of the women of this country to secure themselves their sacred right to the elective franchise.” was of concern as many thought it would cause a large number of their backers to withdraw their support.
The 9th amendment, after much deliberation and the support of abolitionist Frederick Douglass, was eventually passed.
There are many stamps throughout the world celebrating both women’s equality and the right to vote, some of which are:
U.S. 1970’s Celebrate the Century Sheet – Women’s rights – Scott number 3189j
U.S. 1920’s Celebrate the Century Sheet – 19th amendment – Scott Number 3184e.
1995 32c commemorative – Scott number 2980 – called the Woman Suffrage issue but does not mention the terms and is a truly awful stamp.
U.S. Susan B Anthony Suffrage for women – Scott number 784
U.S. Alice Paul Suffragist – Scott number 2943
U.S. Women’s Suffrage Issue – Scott number 1406.
New Zealand Universal Suffrage – Scott number 412
Ireland Votes for Women and Women’s Equality – Scott Number XXX
News and Notes
So, following up on the Canada Post E-Commerce Innovation Awards.
The Canada Post E-commerce Innovation Awards recognize Canadian companies that are disruptive, innovative, passionate and brave. Whether you are just starting out or are well-established, we are looking for retailers that are pushing the boundaries of the e-commerce landscape. If you are one of these companies, this is your chance to be part of something big.
The Awards give retailers big and small the opportunity to stand out and showcase their unique business. Game-changing prizes can help your business move to another level – up to $100,000 in parcel shipping credits, up to $50,000 in Canada Post Smartmail Marketing packages and marketing opportunities on the Canada Post fleet.
A Fairhope, Alabama postal carrier pleaded guilty last week in Federal Court for not delivering the mail. According to court documents filed last Monday the carrier was hired in March 2017 for a rural mail route.
In September the carrier’s wife called authorities stating that she believed her husband had undelivered mail in his truck. According to a plea agreement the carrier was interviewed by postal officials and admitted he did not want to be fired for poor performance so he kept the undelivered mail in his truck.
He had planned to deliver the backlog, which he said started accumulating between August and September, at night but had fallen too far behind.
A search of his truck yielded 1,582 pieces of mail which have been turned over to the postal service for delivery. The man faces up to six months in jail and a $10,000 fine.
What is Franking?
A frank or franking is a mark or notation on the face of an envelope that indicates that either the postage was paid, or that the letter is to be carried and delivered for free. Free franking was mostly used by early postmasters and presidents, but now is more common for members of the military in armed conflict.
There are many different types of franking from early notations on covers stating that the postage was paid, to most commonly now, stamps.
Aside from postage stamps there is metered mail, official mail, and business reply mail.
President Seeks Changes to International Postal Rate System
President Trump, following complaints from manufacturers about shipments from China stated that the United States needs to seek changes to the international postal rate system to ensure “fair and nondiscriminatory rates for goods that promotes unrestricted and undistorted competition”.
The President has issued an order to the United States Postmaster General, and the secretaries of Treasury, State, and Homeland Security calling for a modernization of the monetary reimbursement model for the delivery of goods through the international postal system.
The companints from manufacturers states that Chinese counterfeiters are taking advantage of the below cost terminal dues used to deliver small packages under 4.4 pounds. The rates for these payments which are set by the UPU are allowing Chinese e-commerce to deliver packages of cheap imitation goods at a cost lower than domestic shipping rates, which Bloomberg Government reported on in April.
If negotiations at the upcoming UPU summit next month in Ethiopia fails to produce satisfactory changes, the President stated that the United States “will consider taking any appropriate actions to ensure that rates for the delivery of inbound foreign packages satisfy those criteria, consistent with applicable law.”
The order calls for terminal dues rates that fully reimburse the U.S. Postal Service for costs to the same extent as domestic rates for comparable services; avoid preference for inbound foreign small packages containing goods that favors foreign mailers over domestic mailers; and avoid preference for inbound foreign small packages containing goods that favors postal operators over private-sector entities providing transportation services.
The president says he wants to hear from administration officials no later than Nov. 1 on the steps being taken to implement the goals. If it is determined that sufficient progress is not being achieved, he asked for suggestions “for future action, including the possibility of adopting self‑declared rates,” according to memo.
The UPU, which was established in 1874 and is the world’s second-oldest treaty organization is responsible for setting terminal dues. Robert Taub, chairman of the Postal Regulatory Commission, which oversees the U.S. Postal Service, told Bloomberg Government earlier this year that the problems with the terminal dues structure were well known to regulators and have been festering for decades.
According to Taub, the system worked well when international mail was mostly flat letters, and is only now gaining attention because of the rise in e-commerce, he said.
Regulators did not catch on to the problem until the 1990’s when the commision began reporting the costs incurred along with rates charged by the U.S. Postal Service.
Republican Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana said that he has been working with the administration for months “because American companies are being run out of business by foreign competitors making cheap knockoff products they can ship to Louisiana for less than it costs an American company to mail the genuine product.
There are several UPU stamps
Great Britain – Scott numbers 276-279
There are also sets for Nayasaland, Tonga and Bermuda
United States – Scott Number C42-C44
all of these celebrating 75 years of the UPU
Sept. 7, John Lennon
A stamp honoring John Lennon, the legendary singer and songwriter will be the latest addition to the Music Icons stamps. The stamp features a photograph of John Lennon taken by famed music photographer Bob Gruen. The stamp pane of 16 resembles a 45 rpm record sleeve and features a picture of Lennon at his white piano on the back of the pane in a picture taken by Peter Fordham.
The first day ceremony will be held at the Naumburg Bandshell in Central Park New York at 11:00 AM Eastern time. The location is near East 72nd Street and Fifth Avenue.
Hot Wheels Update
The Hot Wheels stamps we discussed in episode 187 will be released during the Goodguys 26th Summit Racing Lone Star Nationals on September 29th at the Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth Texas at 10:00 AM Central Time.
September 1st -10-4
Arcadia stamp show
Arcadia Lodge on Duarte Avenue.
September 2nd – 9:30 AM – 4:00 PM
Van Nuys Sunday Stamp Show
14750 Sherman Way, Van Nuys, CA
Thurs – Fri 10AM – 7PM Sat 10AM – 5PM
Long Beach Expo
Long Beach Convention Center Hall A