Main Lobby, National Postal Museum, Washington, D.C.
The Smithsonian's National Postal Museum is located in the historic City Post Office Building, which served as the Washington, D.C., post office from 1914 through 1986. The Museum opened to the public in 1993 and its five galleries explore America's postal history. Its diverse collection of postage stamps include: international federally issued stamps (such as air mail, semi-postal, and official), color proofs, and essays. Postmaster provisional stamps, international reply coupons, private stamps, and stamp forgeries are also in the collection.
The processes behind the production of postal issues are illustrated by printing presses; printing and embossing dies and plates; pre-cancel plates and rollers; engraving and etching tools; and more. Adornments worn by postal employees include uniforms, service badges, flight suits, and whistles. Other items include door knockers, hand stamps, mailboxes, mailbags, metering machines, parcel post containers, patent models, posters, scales, signs, and vehicles used in delivering the mail. The gifts offered in the museum store is reflective of he documents and objects in the collection of the National Postal Museum.
Main Lobby, National Postal Museum, Washington, D.C.
The Smithsonian's National Postal Museum is located in the historic City Post Office Building, which served as the Washington, D.C., post office from 1914 through 1986. The Museum opened to the public in 1993 and its five galleries explore America's postal history. Its diverse collection of postage stamps include: international federally issued stamps (such as air mail, semi-postal, and official), color proofs, and essays. Postmaster provisional stamps, international reply coupons, private stamps, and stamp forgeries are also in the collection.
The processes behind the production of postal issues are illustrated by printing presses; printing and embossing dies and plates; pre-cancel plates and rollers; engraving and etching tools; and more. Adornments worn by postal employees include uniforms, service badges, flight suits, and whistles. Other items include door knockers, hand stamps, mailboxes, mailbags, metering machines, parcel post containers, patent models, posters, scales, signs, and vehicles used in delivering the mail. The gifts offered in the museum store is reflective of he documents and objects in the collection of the National Postal Museum.