Smithsonian Libraries

National Postal Museum Library Open House

The National Postal Museum Library is hosting an OPEN HOUSE on Friday, September 26th from 10:00 AM until 4:30 PM. The open house coincides with the Winton M. Blount Postal History Symposium, entitled, "When the mail goes to war". Visit the Library, take a tour, and see our fascinating collections of philatelic and postal history items.

Panama Canal Zone Post Office Finding Aid

We have also created a finding aid for the Panama Canal Zone Post Office collection -

• Which consists of correspondence, newspaper and journal articles, government documents, stamp design files, photographs and other illustrations. The files cover the history of the Panama Canal Zone Post Office from 1904 to 1999.

Please look at the finding aid - http://www.sil.si.edu/digitalcollections/NPM/ - and post your comments in the comment box below.

General and Stamp Design Files of the 3rd. Assist. Postmaster General

The National Postal Museum Library is one of the largest and most important research facilities for the study of philately and the history of postal services in the world. Supplementing the collection of publications on philately and postal history are major document collections including:

• General files of the Third Assistant Postmaster General - contain documentation on the stamp design and production process, covering issues such as paper, inks, engraving and printing methods, production numbers, and public reaction to the stamp designs.
• Stamp design files of the Third Assistant Postmaster General - especially strong from 1920 to 1970, the files are arranged by Scott number and type, including regular issue, commemorative, and airmail stamps.

Please take a look at the finding aids - http://www.sil.si.edu/digitalcollections/NPM/

and let us know your reaction in the comment box below.