Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-07-14
PHMATELiC NEWS
By BELMONT FAIRIES

A vast display Of the latest
Air Force equipment and
weapons from tiny transis-
tors to 40-foot missiles will
form the background for
f1rst-day ceremonies for the
Air Force stamp at the
Armory here August /.
The exhibition, billed as
Airpower Panorama. is being
arranged as part of the <Air
Force Associations five-day
convention, which begins
July 80. The Armory show
win be open to the public
without charge from 10 am.
to 10 pm. August 1-3.
Postmaster General Sum-
merfield is expecting to pre-
sent a special album Of the
50th anniversary commemo-
ratives to Air Force Secre-
tary Douglas as the 10 am.
ceremonies August /.
The stamps. Scent air mail
values, will be printed in
Air Force blue" the famil-
lar uniform color. The initial
order is for 40 million. The
comparatively small figure
apparently reflects a hope
that Congress will complete
action soon on postal rate
legislation raising the air
mail rate to Z cents.
Basic design of the new
stamp is the work of an Air
Force civilian employee, Alex
ander Macy, jr.. Of Baltimore,
chief of the Visual Presenta-
ton Branch, Air Research
and Development Command.
His poster-type entry took
first prize in a competition
sponsored last fall by the Ma
tional Society of Art Di-
rectors and the Air Force As
ISOLATION.
Mr.. Nays design pictures
q B-52 Stratofortress In
banking position with three
F-104 Starfighters in the
background and the Air Force
eagle and thunderbolt shield
in the upper left. The word
ing United States Postage
Sc" in his sketch has been
changed to ~. S. Air Mail
Postage &c" in the final de-
sign to indicate clearly that
the stamp is an, air mail is
sue and to correct the de-
nomination.
Although the Air Force be-
came a separate service
branch only in 1947. it traces
its history back to August
/, 1907, when the Army's
Chief Signal Officer estab-
lished an Aeronautical Divi-
sion of one officer and two
enlisted men to investigate
the military possibilities Of
the Wright Brothers "air
machines"
Covers for first day cancel
lation may be sent to the
Postmaster. Washington, D. C.
The work of cancelling the
covers will be done as usual
at City Post Office.
Hanson Stamp Asked
Gov. McKeldin of Mary
land has asked the Post Of
fee Department to issue a
special stamp this year COM
memorating the 200th ami
versary of the entrance of
John Hanson into public life,
the Associated Press reports
from Annapolis.
Hanson. who was born in
what Is now Charles Coun-
ty, was unanimously elected
President of the United
States in Congress Assembled"
by the Continental Congress
meeting at Philadelphia in
1871 under the Articles of
Confederation.
Whether or not John
Hanson was the first Presi-
dent Of the United States is
a matter for historians to
decide" Gov. McKeldin wrote
to Postmaster General Sum-
merfield, but that he was q
great leader and a great
patriot is undisputed."
Hanson, who was descend
ed from a family of Swedish
pioneers. was educated in
Europe and then led the life
of a landed aristocrat until
he entered the political scene
by becoming a delegate to
the Maryland Assembly in
l757-200 years ago.
Gov. McKeldin said Han
son was largely instrument
tai for Maryland's quick ac-
ton in going to the aid Of
Gen. Washington immediate
ly after the battle of Bunker
Hill"
"Hanson's stature as q
statesman rapidly grew dur
ing the Revolutionary War"
the Governor added. The
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