Richard Russell Stamp

After the death of U.S. Senator Richard Russell in 1971, some friends began initial efforts to get a U.S. stamp issued to honor Georgia's veteran politician. The effort became much more serious in 1980, when Georgia senator Sam Nunn, 67 other members of Congress, and the Richard B. Russell Foundation formally requested that the U.S. Postal Service issue a Russell stamp.

The Postal Service, however, has a long series of rules that govern issuing new commemorative stamps. For example, except for a deceased president, the person being honored must have been dead for at least ten years. Generally, a commemorative stamp is only issued on a significant anniversary (e.g., centennial) related to the person or thing being honored. After considerable pressure, the Postal Service proposed that Russell be recognized with a stamp issued on the centennial of his birth. Supporters of a Russell stamp, however, didn't like this idea--since that would mean a stamp could not be issued until 1997.

Meanwhile, a Richard B. Russell Commemorative Stamp Committee had been formed and was soliciting letters in favor of a Russell stamp from all over the U.S. Finally, in March 1983, Pres. Richard Nixon stepped in and asked Postmaster General William Bolger to issue a Russell stamp. In the face of overwhelming political pressure, the Postal Service announced that a Russell stamp would be issued in 1984. However, it would not officially be a "commemorative stamp" -- rather it would be a "definitive" (or regular) stamp. The distinction is that commemorative stamps usually are larger, have one printing, are available only for a limited time, are issued according to special rules, and are issued in the denomination for one ounce of first-class domestic postage. Definitive stamps may honor someone, but they are smaller in size, are often available for several years, can be issued without regard for the rules for commemorative stamps, and are issued in a wide variety of denominations.

The Russell stamp would be a 10-cent issue in the "Great Americans" definitive stamp series (which also includes the Margaret Mitchell and Abraham Baldwin stamps). Originally, the Postal Service announced the Russell stamp would be issued Nov. 2, 1984 -- the 87th anniversary of his birth -- but that date was changed (apparently because of need for a new supply of 10-cent stamps).

On May 31, 1984, the Postal Service released the 10-cent Richard Russell stamp in his birthplace of Winder, Ga., with first day of issue ceremonies at Fort Yargo State Park. Among those attending were U.S. senators Sam Nunn and Mack Mattingly, U.S. representatives Ed Jenkins (who masterminded the campaign for the stamp) and Doug Barnard, Postmaster General William Bolger, and many other friends and admirers of Russell.

Click here to view some of the souvenir first day covers that were canceled on May 31 in Winder.

Go to Georgia on Stamps page

Go to GeorgiaInfo table of contents