Subject
VN Stamp
Date
Body
Dear Nabokovians,
Two or three years ago, Gennady Barabtarlo, the then-president of
the International Nabokov Society, contacted Mr. Azeezaly S. Jaffer,
Manager of the U.S. Postal Service's Stamp Services, about the
possibility of issuing a stamp commemorating Nabokov 1999 centennial. He
was then advised that the matter was premature and would have to wait
until the event was closer. I took over the quest from Gene and sent
another letter to Mr. Azeezaly S. Jaffer late last year. I pass along to
you most of the text of Mr. Jaffer's response (omitting his elegant
two-inch-high signature).
-----------------------------------------------
Dear Professor Johnson:
Thank you for your recent letter expressing support for the issuance of a
commemorative stamp honoring Vladimir Nabokov in 1999.
Unfortunately, we cannot honor your request. The Citizens' Stamp Advisory
Committee did consider the nomination of Vladimir Nabokov, but it was not
recommended for issuance.
Each year, we receive thousands of letters suggesting hundreds of
different topics for new stamps. Since 1957, the Citizens' Advisory
Committee has reviewed many worthy subjects and has recommended a limited
number based on national interest, historical perspective and other
criteria. Unfortunately, a vast majority of suggestions submitted,
including many meritorious and meaningful subjects, cannot result in a
stamp.
[AND NOW THE CONSOLATION PRIZE--DBJ]
As an alternative, a pictorial cancellation may be used to recognize
special events such as yours (a reference to my mention of the VN
Centennial Conference at Cornell --DBJ).You may apply to the postmanster
of the city where your event will take place at least ten weeks prior ro
your event. Enclosed you will find information on pictorial cancellation.
We appreciate your interest in our stamp program.
Sincerely, AZEEZALY S. JAFFER
Stamp Services
U.S. Postal Service
475 L'Enfant Plaza SW
Washington DC 20260-2435
--------------------------------------------------
To all this, one can only echo Dmitri Nabokov's recent comment:
"Speaking of stamps, I wonder if whatever powers might think
Nabokov himself might merit one for his 1999 centenary, to put him on a
cultural par with, for example, Elvis." (The Nabokvian, #37 [Fall 1996],
pp. 22-23)
D. Barton Johnson
Department of Germanic, Slavic and Semitic Studies
Phelps Hall
University of California at Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara, CA 93106
Phone and Fax: (805) 687-1825
Home Phone: (805) 682-4618
Two or three years ago, Gennady Barabtarlo, the then-president of
the International Nabokov Society, contacted Mr. Azeezaly S. Jaffer,
Manager of the U.S. Postal Service's Stamp Services, about the
possibility of issuing a stamp commemorating Nabokov 1999 centennial. He
was then advised that the matter was premature and would have to wait
until the event was closer. I took over the quest from Gene and sent
another letter to Mr. Azeezaly S. Jaffer late last year. I pass along to
you most of the text of Mr. Jaffer's response (omitting his elegant
two-inch-high signature).
-----------------------------------------------
Dear Professor Johnson:
Thank you for your recent letter expressing support for the issuance of a
commemorative stamp honoring Vladimir Nabokov in 1999.
Unfortunately, we cannot honor your request. The Citizens' Stamp Advisory
Committee did consider the nomination of Vladimir Nabokov, but it was not
recommended for issuance.
Each year, we receive thousands of letters suggesting hundreds of
different topics for new stamps. Since 1957, the Citizens' Advisory
Committee has reviewed many worthy subjects and has recommended a limited
number based on national interest, historical perspective and other
criteria. Unfortunately, a vast majority of suggestions submitted,
including many meritorious and meaningful subjects, cannot result in a
stamp.
[AND NOW THE CONSOLATION PRIZE--DBJ]
As an alternative, a pictorial cancellation may be used to recognize
special events such as yours (a reference to my mention of the VN
Centennial Conference at Cornell --DBJ).You may apply to the postmanster
of the city where your event will take place at least ten weeks prior ro
your event. Enclosed you will find information on pictorial cancellation.
We appreciate your interest in our stamp program.
Sincerely, AZEEZALY S. JAFFER
Stamp Services
U.S. Postal Service
475 L'Enfant Plaza SW
Washington DC 20260-2435
--------------------------------------------------
To all this, one can only echo Dmitri Nabokov's recent comment:
"Speaking of stamps, I wonder if whatever powers might think
Nabokov himself might merit one for his 1999 centenary, to put him on a
cultural par with, for example, Elvis." (The Nabokvian, #37 [Fall 1996],
pp. 22-23)
D. Barton Johnson
Department of Germanic, Slavic and Semitic Studies
Phelps Hall
University of California at Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara, CA 93106
Phone and Fax: (805) 687-1825
Home Phone: (805) 682-4618