The Postal Service dedicated its new Pinback Buttons stamps at the Great American Stamp Show in Hartford, CT, on Thursday, Aug. 15.
“One of the bedrocks of our nation is freedom of expression, so it’s no surprise that pinback buttons have enjoyed such enduring popularity,” said Shibani Gambhir, the USPS sales intelligence and support vice president and one of the speakers at the event.
“Whether they convey your politics, champion a cause, simply tell a joke or serve as a souvenir, these small tokens of your thoughts and interests are easily worn and shared with others,” Gambhir said.
She was joined at the ceremony by Scott English, executive director of the American Philatelic Society, which partnered with USPS for the event; Greg Breeding, an art director for USPS and the stamps’ designer; and Jennifer Miller, executive director of the American Topical Association, a group for stamp collectors.
“Long before we had social media, pinback buttons were a common form of self-expression. Even today, nothing replaces the warmth of a handwritten note to friends and family,” said English.
“When you send your next note, you’ll have an upbeat stamp to add an extra personal touch to the envelope.”
Breeding designed the stamps from illustrations by 10 artists, one for each stamp. The 10 stamps are sold in panes of 20 and are available at Post Offices and on usps.com.