Shel Silverstein Stamps: How to Use, Collect & Buy Them?

Shel Silverstein was one of the most imaginative and versatile authors and illustrators of the 20th century. His books, such as “The Giving Tree” and “Where the Sidewalk Ends”, are beloved by children and adults alike. His poetry, songs, plays, and cartoons have also influenced generations of readers and artists.

In 2022, the U.S. Postal Service honored Shel Silverstein with a Forever stamp featuring his artwork from his book, “The Giving Tree”. The stamp shows a boy catching an apple from a motherly tree, a symbol of selflessness and friendship. The stamp was released on April 8, 2022, at Darwin Elementary School in Chicago, where Silverstein attended as a child.

But what makes Shel Silverstein stamps so special? Are they worth collecting? How can you buy them online or offline? In this article, we will answer these questions and give you some tips on how to enjoy these stamps.

The History and Value of Shel Silverstein Stamps

The Shel Silverstein stamp is part of the Literary Arts series, which celebrates American writers and their works. The stamp is issued in panes of 20 and has a face value of 58 cents. It can be used to mail a one-ounce letter within the United States.

The stamp is not the only one that features Shel Silverstein’s work. There are also other stamps that show his illustrations or quotes from his books. These stamps are also part of the Forever series, which means they will always be equal in value to the current First-Class Mail one-ounce price.

The Shel Silverstein stamps are not only beautiful, but also valuable. According to the Scott Catalogue of postage stamps, which is the most widely used source of stamp pricing information, the Shel Silverstein stamps have a market value of $1.20 each. This means that they are worth more than twice their face value.

The Shel Silverstein stamps are also popular among collectors and fans. According to the U.S. Postal Service, more than 18 million Shel Silverstein stamps were sold in 2022, making them one of the best-selling stamps of the year. The stamps have also received positive reviews from stamp magazines and websites, such as Linn’s Stamp News and Stamp Collecting World.

The Most Popular Shel Silverstein Stamps

The Shel Silverstein stamp is not the only one that features his work. There are also other stamps that show his illustrations or quotes from his books. Here are some of the most popular ones:

• The Giving Tree Booklet. This booklet contains 20 stamps with different scenes from “The Giving Tree”. It was issued in 2015 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the book’s publication. The booklet also includes a short biography of Shel Silverstein and some trivia about the book.
• Where the Sidewalk Ends Postcard. This postcard has a stamp with an illustration from “Where the Sidewalk Ends”, one of Silverstein’s best-selling poetry collections. The postcard also has a quote from the book: “There is a place where the sidewalk ends / And before the street begins”. It was issued in 2014 as part of the Postcard Rate series.
• A Light in the Attic Postcard. This postcard has a stamp with an illustration from “A Light in the Attic”, another popular poetry collection by Silverstein. The postcard also has a quote from the book: “There’s a light on in the attic / Though the house is dark and shuttered”. It was issued in 2016 as part of the Postcard Rate series.
• Falling Up Postcard. This postcard has a stamp with an illustration from “Falling Up”, Silverstein’s last poetry collection before his death in 1999. The postcard also has a quote from the book: “I tripped on my shoelace / And I fell up”. It was issued in 2017 as part of the Postcard Rate series.
• Every Thing On It Postcard. This postcard has a stamp with an illustration from “Every Thing On It”, a posthumous poetry collection by Silverstein that was published in 2011. The postcard also has a quote from the book: “I asked for a hot dog / With everything on it”. It was issued in 2018 as part of the Postcard Rate series.

These stamps and postcards are not only fun to collect, but also to send to your friends and family. They can brighten up anyone’s day with their humor and wisdom.

Tips for Using Shel Silverstein Stamps

If you want to use Shel Silverstein stamps for your mail, here are some tips to make the most of them:

• Check the weight and size of your envelope. The Shel Silverstein stamp is valid for mailing a standard one-ounce letter within the United States. If your envelope weighs more than one ounce, or if it is larger than 6 1/8 inches by 11 1/2 inches, you will need additional postage. You can use a postage calculator to find out how much postage you need.
• Choose an envelope that matches the theme of your stamp. If you want to enhance the visual appeal of your mail, you can choose an envelope that matches the color or design of your stamp. For example, you can use a green envelope for “The Giving Tree” stamp, or a yellow envelope for “A Light in the Attic” stamp.

• Write a personal message that relates to your stamp. If you want to make your mail more meaningful, you can write a personal message that relates to your stamp. For example, you can write about your favorite Shel Silverstein book or poem, or share a memory or lesson that you learned from his work.
• Decorate your envelope with stickers or drawings. If you want to make your mail more creative, you can decorate your envelope with stickers or drawings that relate to your stamp. For example, you can use stickers of apples, trees, or animals for “The Giving Tree” stamp, or draw stars, moons, or candles for “A Light in the Attic” stamp.
• Collect the stamps and postcards for yourself. If you want to keep the stamps and postcards for yourself, you can collect them in an album or a scrapbook. You can also display them in a frame or a shadow box. You can enjoy looking at them and reading them anytime you want.

How to Buy Shel Silverstein Stamps Online or Offline

If you want to buy Shel Silverstein stamps online or offline, here are some options to consider:

As you can see, there are many ways to buy Shel Silverstein stamps online or offline. You can choose the one that suits your needs and preferences. However, you should always be careful and check the authenticity and quality of the products before buying them.

How to Use Shel Silverstein Stamps for the 2023 Holiday Season

If you are looking for a unique and thoughtful way to send your holiday greetings this year, why not use Shel Silverstein stamps? Here are some reasons why Shel Silverstein stamps are perfect for the 2023 holiday season:

• They are festive and cheerful. Shel Silverstein stamps have bright colors and whimsical designs that can add some joy and fun to your holiday mail. They can also match the theme of the holiday season, such as giving, sharing, and celebrating.

• They are meaningful and memorable. Shel Silverstein stamps have messages and quotes that can touch the hearts and minds of your recipients. They can also remind them of the stories and lessons that they learned from Shel Silverstein’s books. They can also spark some nostalgia and conversation about their childhood memories.
• They are versatile and creative. Shel Silverstein stamps can be used for any type of holiday mail, such as cards, letters, invitations, thank-you notes, or gifts. They can also be combined with other elements, such as stickers, drawings, photos, or ornaments, to create your own personalized holiday mail.

To use Shel Silverstein stamps for your holiday mail, you can follow the same tips that we mentioned above for using them in general. You can also try some of these ideas:

• Send a card with a poem. You can write your own poem inspired by Shel Silverstein’s style, or use one of his poems from his books. You can also decorate the card with some stickers or drawings of his characters. For example, you can write:

Dear friend, I hope you have a merry Christmas And a happy new year too I’m sending you this card with a stamp That reminds me of you

It’s a stamp of Shel Silverstein He was a writer and an artist He made me laugh and think and dream With his words and pictures that were the smartest

He wrote about a giving tree And a place where the sidewalk ends He wrote about a light in the attic And how to be friends

He taught me to be kind and generous And to use my imagination He taught me to be brave and curious And to have fun in every situation

So I hope you like this stamp and card And I hope you feel the same way too Because you are my giving tree And I’m so glad to have a friend like you

• Send a letter with a story. You can write your own story inspired by Shel Silverstein’s themes, or use one of his stories from his books. You can also include some photos or drawings of your own experiences that relate to the story. For example, you can write:

Dear cousin, I hope you are doing well and having a great holiday season. I’m writing to you with a stamp that features Shel Silverstein, one of my favorite authors. Do you remember him? He wrote “The Giving Tree” and “Where the Sidewalk Ends”. I love his stories and illustrations, they are so funny and clever.

One of his stories that I really like is called “The Missing Piece”. It’s about a circle that has a wedge-shaped piece missing from it. The circle goes on a journey to find its missing piece, but along the way, it realizes that it can do many things without it, such as roll faster, sing louder, and enjoy the scenery better. The circle meets many other shapes that offer to be its missing piece, but none of them fit perfectly. Finally, the circle finds its exact missing piece, but then it discovers that it can no longer do the things that it enjoyed before. So the circle decides to leave its missing piece behind and continue its journey alone.

I think this story is very meaningful and relatable. It teaches us that we don’t need to be perfect or complete to be happy. It also teaches us that we should appreciate what we have and not take things for granted. It also teaches us that we should be independent and adventurous, and not let others define us or limit us.

I’m sending you this story because it reminds me of you. You are like the circle in the story, always looking for new experiences and challenges. You are also like the circle in the story, always cheerful and optimistic. You are also like the circle in the story, always finding your own way and being yourself.

I’m also sending you this story because it reminds me of us. We are like two pieces of a puzzle, different but complementary. We have been through many ups and downs together, but we always support each other and make each other laugh. We have also been apart for a long time, but we always stay in touch and share our stories. We don’t need each other to be happy, but we are happier when we are together.

So I hope you enjoy this stamp and letter, and I hope you know how much I miss you and love you. You are my missing piece, but you are also my whole circle. Happy holidays!

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