DISCOVER THE INCREDIBLE STORY OF AMERICA THROUGH ITS BEAUTIFUL AND DIVERSE POSTAGE STAMPS IN THIS EXUBERANT AND ALWAYS CHARMING HISTORY. In A History of America in Thirty-six Postage Stamps , Chris West explores America's own rich philatelic history. From George Washington's dour gaze to the charging buffalo of the western frontier and Lindbergh's soaring biplane, American stamps are a vivid window into our country's extraordinary and distinctive past. With the always accessible and spirited West as your guide, discover ...
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DISCOVER THE INCREDIBLE STORY OF AMERICA THROUGH ITS BEAUTIFUL AND DIVERSE POSTAGE STAMPS IN THIS EXUBERANT AND ALWAYS CHARMING HISTORY. In A History of America in Thirty-six Postage Stamps , Chris West explores America's own rich philatelic history. From George Washington's dour gaze to the charging buffalo of the western frontier and Lindbergh's soaring biplane, American stamps are a vivid window into our country's extraordinary and distinctive past. With the always accessible and spirited West as your guide, discover the remarkable breadth of America's short history through a fresh lens. On their own, stamps can be curiosities, even artistic marvels; in this book, stamps become a window into the larger sweep of history.
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Good. Size: 8x5x0; some wear to DJ minimal wear on edges of cover slight peeling on edges and corners of DJ minimal stains on edges of pagesYour purchase benefits those with developmental disabilities to live a better quality of life.
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Very Good. Very Good condition. Good dust jacket. A copy that may have a few cosmetic defects. May also contain light spine creasing or a few markings such as an owner's name, short gifter's inscription or light stamp. Bundled media such as CDs, DVDs, floppy disks or access codes may not be included.
Unlike school history books that omit the interesting details, Chris West's survey of U.S. history includes information on emblematic stamps, their designers, and development of the U.S. Postal service. I was astonished to find that John Wanamaker, developer of the modern department store (I remember the flagship store in downtown Philadelphia, the bronze eagle, and the organ which in the 1960s was still played) was appointed U.S. Postmaster in 1889. He was a visionary who attempted to set up parcel delivery service, banks in post offices, and free rural delivery.
Let me not mislead you: the focus and vast majority of information and discussion is about U.S. history. West's strength is his ability to weave interesting details into the larger narrative and to use colloquial rather than stilted academic language. The first chapter about the British Stamp Act and colonist rebellion was the most intelligible explanation I've run across. High school students subjected to American History courses would be well advised to buy this book and get the
juicy, human details that bring historical events alive.
