MONTH 8!
WE WERE ALMOST LATE! | | |
We were so busy having fun in July that August appeared! Stamp collectors are always on time, and our newsletter is on time, too!
It's been a fantastic summer at the Spellman! Our plans and programming are in full swing for a fun and informative fall, featuring live presentations, new exhibit frames and lots of surprises. Stay close to us and we'll continue to update you as to what is on deck.
AUGUST FLOWERS: Gladiolus, Poppy AUGUST GEM: Peridot, Spinel, Sardonyx
ABOUT THESE AMAZING GEMS:
Peridot
A transparent, yellowish-green gem variety of olivine or chrysolite. It's known for its lime and olive hues and transparency, which makes it shine when used in jewelry. Peridot is softer than many gems and can't withstand hard wear, but it's often given as a 16th wedding anniversary gift. The Egyptians called peridot the "gem of the sun" and believed it had healing powers. It's been found in volcanic lava in Hawaii and in meteorites that have fallen to Earth.
Spinel
A durable gem that comes in many colors, including red, pink, orange, purple, violet, blue, and bluish green. Spinel is often used in rings and other jewelry and is traditionally given as a 22nd wedding anniversary gift.
Sardonyx
Combines alternating layers of sard and onyx—two types of the layered mineral chalcedony to create a reddish zebra-striped gemstone with white bands. Its name combines sard (referencing the ancient Persian city, Sardis—in present-day Turkey—where the red stone was found) with onyx (from the Greek word of the same spelling, which meant “nail or claw.”) Sard ranges in color from yellowish-red to reddish-brown, depending on how much iron oxide is present. Sardonyx, like onyx, shows layers of parallel bands—instead of the chaotic, curved bands that compose agate, another type of chalcedony.
The finest examples of sardonyx, which display sharp contrasts between layers, are found in India. Other sources include Brazil, Germany, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Madagascar, Uruguay, and the United States.
|  |  |  |  | |
BEFORE WE HAVE FUN WITH AUGUST, MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR THE FOLLOWING EVENTS!
Symposium lead by Yamil Kouri, Spellman Chair of the Board - Webinar Thursday, September 12 8pm
New England Birds of Prey Saturday, October 26 11am
Family Crafts Fun Saturday, October 26 12 noon
The History of Tea Sunday, November 10 11am
Joys of Nature – Live Animals Saturday, November 16 11am
Holiday Letters to Santa Saturday, December 7 10am
for more information or to RSVP please contact Jodi Chase - jlchase@spellmanmuseum.org
|  |  | |
New USPS Issue on August 1:
Dungeons and Dragons!
The United States Postal Service is releasing a set of Dungeons & Dragons stamps on August 1 to celebrate the game's 50th anniversary. The 20-stamp pane will feature 10 different designs by USPS art director Greg Breeding that highlight characters, creatures, and encounters from the game. The stamps will be unveiled at the Gen Con Indy 2024 convention in Indianapolis, Indiana, which runs from August 1–4.
Dragons have been a continued inspiration for so many postage stamps over the decades both domestically and internationally. Here are just some of our favorites below...
|  |  |  | |
Dragons and related imagery have been a part of postage stamp design for decades. Both internationally and domestically, artists and designers continue to bring us gorgeous artwork depicting these glorious beings. The Year of the Dragon, which began in the Chinese Zodiac calendar on February 10 of this year, inspired many postage stamp designs. This particular year is associated with wood, so it is the Year of the Wood Dragon. The 12-year cycle of the Chinese zodiac is represented by 12 different animals, including the dragon, and people born in a given year are said to have that animal's sign. The dragon is a Yang Earth sign that some say is associated with traits such as confidence, resilience, and intelligence.
In Chinese culture, the dragon has significant symbolism and is revered. It represents positive qualities such as power, strength, good luck, and wisdom. The Chinese dragon is considered a celestial and divine creature, with the ability to control natural elements such as wind and water.
The Year of the Dragon is anticipated to bring auspicious opportunities and exciting advancements for all. Those born under the dragon sign are reputed for their innovative thinking and inquisitive nature, and often flourish in their professional pursuits.
|
August is a great month to be born!
FUN FACTS: August babies are a Leo, represented by the lion or Virgo, represented by the maiden.
Ruled by the sun, it is believed that Leos thrive in the spotlight. They are thought to be creative, theatrical, and passionate. Leos tend to make fabulous leaders—but watch out because those leadership traits can sometimes look more like vanity. August babies are born with so many leadership traits like boldness, charisma, and loyalty that it's no wonder they make great trailblazers. They're also prime presidential material, apparently! A few presidential August United States Presidents include Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, and Lyndon B. Johnson.
Some very well known people are Leos....
Jason Momoa, Viola Davis, Halle Berry, Charlize Theron, Anna Kendrick, Chris Hemsworth, Jennifer Lawrence, Keke Palmer, Melissa McCarthy, Ben Affleck, Steve Carell, Mila Kunis, Taika Waititi, Andrew Garfield, Bo Burnham, Hayden Panettiere, Kristen Wiig, Ava Duvernay, Cameron Diaz, Michelle Yeo, Leslie Odom Jr., and Demi Lovato…to name just some.
More on Virgos next month.....
| |
Now this is interesting...
US Presidents on Stamps
Presidents of the United States have frequently appeared on U.S. postage stamps since the mid-19th century. The USPS released its first two postage stamps in 1847, featuring George Washington on one, and Benjamin Franklin on the other. The advent of presidents on postage stamps has been definitive to US postage stamp design since the first issues were released and set the precedent that U.S. stamp designs would follow for many generations.
Early postage stamps were usually printed from a fine engraving and were almost impossible to forge. This is where the image of presidents on stamps was introduced. The subject of a president, along with the honors associated with it, is what began to define the stamp issues in ways that took it beyond the physical postage stamp itself and is why people began to collect them.
The portrayals of George Washington and Benjamin Franklin on U.S. postage are among the most definitive of examples and have appeared on numerous postage stamps. The presidential theme in stamp designs continued as the decades passed, each period issuing stamps with variations of the same basic presidential-portrait design theme.
Engraved portrayals of US presidents were the only designs found on US postage from 1847 until 1869, with the one exception of Benjamin Franklin, whose historical stature was comparable to that of a president, although his appearance was also an acknowledgement of his role as the first U.S. postmaster general.
Other famous Americans, including Henry Clay, Daniel Webster, Alexander Hamilton and General Winfield Scott, became subjects of postage stamp art in 1870.
Every deceased U.S. president as of 2023 has appeared on at least one U.S. postage stamp, and all but Richard Nixon, and the two most recently deceased presidents, Gerald Ford, and George H. W. Bush, have appeared on at least two. Per postal office regulations, no living figure is permitted to be the subject of a postage stamp, so no living president is permitted on a postage stamp.
| |
| | | |
