MO Pharmacist November 2022

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A friend, pharmacist George Griffenha gen, communications director for APhA at that time, was a key leader in promoting the pharmacy stamp. Drug manufactur ers, national, state and local pharmacy organizations, and even the healthcare practitionersmentioned above grew into a flood of support for such a stamp. Success was achieved because of the team effort to support the campaign. Senator Robert Griffin (Mich.) promoted the stamp in Congress andwas soon joined by Senator BobDole (Kans.) (chair of the Republican National Committee) to provide the po litical push in this effort. The postal service finally responded with the announcement on August 14, 1971, they would issue a stamp honoring the nation’s 100,000 pharmacists. They revealed the design (figure 2) and stated it would be printed and issued on No vember 10, 1972. The First Day of Issue ceremony would occur at the 120th year convention of the American Pharmaceu tical Association at the NetherlandHilton hotel in Cincinnati Ohio. When a commemorative stamp is issued, there is usually a First Day cere mony with invited guests present for the first day of sale of the stamp. Many of the pharmaceutical organizations men tioned produced First Day Covers (FDC). A first day cover (figure 3) is an envelope with a picture usually on the left (cachet) and the newly issued stamp in the usual place on the upper right, canceled with FIRSTDAYOF ISSUE on the stamp. Over 804,320 first day covers were made by over 100 organizations in the pharmacy profession. Also, drug manufacturers, several pharmacy schools, drug store chains as well as independent pharmacy owners, pharmacy publications and local stamp clubs produced these covers. Pharmacists received many of the different FDCs from these organizations. Many of these FDCs were saved because many pharmacists also collected stamps during the time of issue. Some pharma cies used the occasion to send these FDCs as a marketing tool to physicians, with a message about the personal care and oth er services their patients would receive. Look at the picture on the stamp. Ken Davies, of Madison, Connecticut,

was the designer and artist who created the artwork. He drew the Bowl of Hygeia (Greek goddess of health), Mortar and Pestle, the pharmacy symbol Rx (Recipe or take thou) and two 19th century bot tles (one for medicine and one for per fume). The writing on both labels was intentionally made illegible. The colors of orange, dark and light tan, blue bottles, red Hygeia, and brown pestle handle are striking. This also provided many color shifts during the printing (figure 4) and creating perforation errors that are highly collectible. (figure 5) The total quantity of the Pharma cy Stamp printing was 165,895,000. The stamp was sold by the post office from the first issue date to January 4, 1974. After that date no more were produced. Millions of sheets were bought during that time. Now, you can find the stamps and covers from stamp dealers or collectors. You can still buy sheets of 50 stamps for around $13-those sheets, plate blocks of four stamps and singles are still available. A large variety of FDCs are available for between $3-$10. Some of the covers are hand painted or produced in such small quantities that they sell for several hun dred dollars. (figure 6) Once plentiful, it is becoming dif ficult to find these items. Millions were used by the pharmacy industry right after they were issued. After 50 years of use, you must search to find those stamps to day. Graduating students had used them on their announcement cards. Yes, they still are valid to use as postage. At today’s cost for a first-class letter (60 cents) you would have to use eight stamps to mail a letter, overpaying by four cents. Today, I see these stamps given as a gift to grad uates, given as awards, or used as a com memorative gift to those in pharmacy education and industry. It took over 38 years, and total sup port by many leaders in the pharmacy industry working diligently to promote the Pharmacy stamp. It continues to be one of the most highly respected and ap preciated U.S. stamps issued since 1847 when the first U.S. stamp was issued. If you are looking for a hobby, consider col lecting this stamp and its covers.

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10 Missouri PHARMACIST | Volume 96, Issue III | November 2022