Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-07-21
PHILATELIc NEWS
No Hamburger Stamp
BY BELMONT FAIRIES
Star Stamp Editor

BY BELMONT FAIRIES
Star Stamp Editor
Postmaster General ]. Ed
ward Day has rejected a re-
quest for q 19-cent COM
memorative stamp honoring
the American hamburger.
The story is told in two
letters, the request by Doe
MesSett Of Days Drive-In,
Seattle, WASH, and the reply
by James F. Kelleher, spe-
cial assistant to the Post
master General in charge Of
public relations and phi
lately.
Here is the letter Mr.. Mes
sett sent to Mr.. Day, with
copies to Senators Magnu-
son and Jackson:
Dear Sir:
I'VE are enclosing, for your
interest, a rough design of a
projected postage stamp to
honor a truly American in
stitution-humble but recog-
nized and admired by peoples
all over the earth. 1t Is the
Great American Hamburger
Americans eat approx
mately 10 billion hamburgers
a year. Thus this one food
item is Of major economic
benefit to all the wheat,
cattle, tomato, lettuce, Gu
cumber, mustard and cheese
States. In addition, more
than 10000 small business
men make their living, pay
wages and taxes, and serve
their communities by making
and selling hamburgers.
1.-THE hamburger is recog-
nized by the world as some
thing Americana symbol of
Americas ability to feed her
people well, conveniently and
economically. It is a good
symbol Of America, because
1t Is universal. The ham
burger is not confined to any
one section Of the country.
1t knows no boundaries Of
creed, philosophy, geography
or wealth.
Eve propose that this new
stamp be issued in q Decent
denomination. That does not
appear to be spoken for. And,
too, it is the price at which
the majority Of all ham
burgers now sell in the
United States, primarily in
drive-in restaurants.
"As the owners and opera
tors Of three such drive-ins,
we respectfully submit this
proposal.
Sincerely,
Doe Messett,
for DAG's"
Here is Mr.. Kelleher's re-
ply:
Dear Mr.. MeSSett:
Many thanks for your
mouth watering suggestion
for q commemorative stamp
to honor the American ham,
burger.
Search as we might, we
can find no category Of Gu
linary commemorative into
which 1t could fit, and we
constantly concern ourselves
about precedents any stamp
might set.
Immediately, 1t comes to
mind that the hot dog, the
bagel, the English muffin,
the soft drink, the sweet roll,
the banana split, and the
pretzel (already entered)
would be in line right be-
hind you to affix their slice
Of Americana to mail.
II am sure you understand
that with a limit of is COM
memorative stamps per year,
our menu is necesSarily
limited. However, your sug-
gestion that the stamp be is
sued in a 19-cent denomina-
ton does offer interesting
possibilities. Postage rates
have increased 6625 per cent
in the last 80 years and, at
that pace, our basic rate
might reach 10 cents in about
another century. However, we
will be glad to keep your re-
quest on our back burner,
II you desire. anticipating
that eventuality.
"As q father Of four ham
burger consumers, I ap-
preciate your concern for the
role your industry plays in
community life, but hope
you, too, can understand why
we must regretfully pass up
the opportunity to issue a
stamp to honor the ham
burger.
Sincerely
James F. Kelleher
Special Assistant to
the Postmaster General"
Mr.. Messett, questioned
after receiving the word that