Stamps Commemorating Nursing

Registered Nurse discusses stamps portraying nurses, nursing profession and nursing history. Includes links to websites displaying stamps. Nurses Activism Article

  • Home Health Columnist / Guide
    Specializes in Vents, Telemetry, Home Care, Home infusion.
Stamps Commemorating Nursing

While rummaging in my parents basement after my mothers death, I ran across a scrapbook of stamps with a loving note from Mom "these are for Karen".

This has sparked my interest in Philately: Stamp Collecting.

In it was a set of four 1961 nursing stamps:

USNurse-stamp1.jpg.63a712c947b44bd92410fd1d9324d3ec.jpgScott Catalogue# 1190
Issued on Dec 28, 1961

The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) began permitting consumers to design their own stamps in 2004, and added businesses in May 2006. Custom stamps are now sold through four vendors: Stamps.com, Endicia, Zazzle and Pitney Bowes and have a bar code to validate their authenticity.

The USPS twelve criteria for new stamps and postal stationery state that "events of historical significance shall be considered for commemoration only on anniversaries in multiples of 50 years." For many years, this included the restriction that "no postal item will be issued sooner than five years after the individual's death," with an exception provided for stamps memorializing recently deceased U.S. Presidents.

In September 2011, the postal service changed that policy to increase sagging revenues. Stamps would allow images of celebrated living persons, chosen by a Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee in response to suggestions submitted by the public via surface mail and social networks on the Internet (no email!). They also began issuing all new stamps for First-Class postage as Forever stamps: denominations are no longer included on them.

The Scott catalog of postage stamps, published by Amos Publishing Co., is updated annually and lists all the stamps of the entire world. There are other stamp catalog's on the market, some are country specific.

See who else is portrayed in stamps: Women Subjects on United States Postage Stamps

The American Association for the History of Nursing, Inc. has one of the most extensive online exhibits of stamps honoring nurses with International, US and First Day Covers listed.

Here is a sneak peak:

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1961 Columbian stamp honors Manuelita de la Cruz, Red Cross nurse who drowned while on duty during floods of 1955.

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This 1948 stamp honors Clara Barton, founder and first president of the American Red Cross.

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Harriet Tubman, a volunteer [Union] Civil War nurse.

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Phoebe Pember, a [Confederate] Civil War nurse.

First Day Cover

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The Collectable Stamps Gallery website features many health care stamps:

Professions - Commemorated and Honored on Authentic Postage Stamps

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Australia paid tribute to the profession of nursing with the release of this mint stamp on September 21, 1955. The design depicts Florence Nightingale and a modern nurse; the issue date coincided with the centenary of Florence Nightingale's work in the Crimea and of the founding of modern nursing.

The American College of Nurse Midwives has modern stamps promoting their profession.

Home Health Columnist / Guide

NRSKarenRN is a passionate collector of tea cups, Christmas ornaments, Gurley candles and now nursing stamps. Always seen with a needlepoint project in downtime.

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Specializes in Trauma, ER, ICU, CCU, PACU, GI, Cardiology, OR.

first of all, accept my sincere condolences. unquestionably, karen, you have stumbled upon a priceless treasure not in the monetary sense of the word, but in the history of our beloved nursing. may you cherish such gift for years to come and thank you for sharing your treasure with us...wishing you a great & bless weekend.... mahalo & aloha~

Home Health Columnist / Guide

NRSKarenRN, BSN, RN

10 Articles; 18,300 Posts

Specializes in Vents, Telemetry, Home Care, Home infusion.

i'll continue my hunt to find nursing related stamps and post them here.

scott no. 223

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from kevins stamp albumn

student nurse issued by ryukyu islands on december 24, 1971 for the 25th anniversary of nurses' training,

many unique at stamp community family nurse stamps--have any?

check all 6 pages.

Home Health Columnist / Guide

NRSKarenRN, BSN, RN

10 Articles; 18,300 Posts

Specializes in Vents, Telemetry, Home Care, Home infusion.

2012-9s.jpg

china 2012-9 100th anniversary of international nursing stamp

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images?q=tbn:and9gctczk1xdyt4cozz56hfxuo1zgl6syl8a-586-pbkzlc2txz1ryvnwdorblm

wwii third reich red cross

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england rcn website: international nursing stamps

florence nightingale

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cecilia-makiwane-on-ciskei-.jpg

cecilia makiwane, pioneering african nurse born in 1880

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famous women on stamps

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sophie mannerheim (1863-1928)

a famous nurse known as pioneer of modern nursing in finland

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new zealand: medicine on stamps

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[color=#804000]new zealand 1990 nurse grace neill.

Mulan

2,228 Posts

How sweet of your mom.

PacoUSA, BSN, RN

3,445 Posts

Specializes in ICU / PCU / Telemetry / Oncology.

We need a male nurse stamp ... just sayin' :rolleyes:

Home Health Columnist / Guide

NRSKarenRN, BSN, RN

10 Articles; 18,300 Posts

Specializes in Vents, Telemetry, Home Care, Home infusion.
We need a male nurse stamp ... just sayin' :rolleyes:

TOTALLY agree with you Paco.

I've looked at over 100 stamp sites, Walt Whitman is only male I could find

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His "nursing experience" was assisting sick and injured during Civil War.

Zazzle's Nurse Custom Stamps has

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9k=

Finally found "Portrait of a young male nurse"

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How many are up for a letter writing campaign to get improved portrayal's of men in nursing?

caliotter3

38,333 Posts

My Dad collected stamps. I remember the Scott's catalog and better yet, I remember seeing these American nursing stamps as a child! Both, in his albums, and in use. Wow, how time flies. These are nice. Thanks for sharing Karen.

Specializes in LTC, CPR instructor, First aid instructor..

Thank you for all of these Karen. They are priceless. Nurses should be honored. IMHO, they are he heroes of the medical field, and have even protected the licenses of physicians time and time again.

SuzieeQ

61 Posts

Specializes in Geriatrics, retirement, home care..

These are wonderful keepsakes :)

amygarside

1,026 Posts

What you have found are oozing with memories and sentimental value. Thank you for sharing your story and keepsakes with us.