Founded 1988
" An International Stamp Society, honoring the African Diaspora and African Americans on stamps"
Our 36th Year
Events and ESPER News
Reflections Wins Grand Award at NTSS
Editor and Chief Reflections
Editor and Chief Reflections
​
The 66th Annual American Topical Association National Topical Stamp Show was held July 31 through August 2, 2015, in Portland, Oregon. At the NTSS 2015 Stamp Exhibition Study Unit Literature Competition, ESPER’s quarterly newsletter, Reflections, won the Grand Award for Study Units with more than 200 members. Editor Don Neal is excited by this recognition and accomplishment. The issues that won the award are July 2014, October 2014, January 2015, and April 2015. Congratulations, Don!
Freedom Just Around the Corner
On February 12, 2015, The Smithsonian National Postal Museum held an evening gala to celebrate the opening of its year-long exhibition, “Freedom Just Around the Corner: Black America from Civil War to Civil Rights.” The exhibit’s opening coincided with the first-day-of-issue ceremony for the Robert Robinson Taylor Black Heritage stamp also held in the museum earlier in the day. The National Postal Museum’s (NPM) first exhibition devoted entirely to African-American history marks 150 years since the end of the Civil War and the abolition of slavery throughout the United States. The exhibition chronicles the African-American experience through the perspective of stamps and mail.
Display case with logos from different stamp organization.
Picture of opening ceremony for Freedom Just Around the Corner
Pictures from Exhibit
Click on picture for tour and web link
Our Website Banner Designer
ESPER's website banner was designed by cachet maker Kendal Bevil. He took time from his busy schedule to do so. We want to acknowledge Kendal for his talent, generosity, and contribution to our homepage and our society.
ESPER Member Receives
Secretary's Research Prize
​
ESPER member Calvin Mitchell (left), Assistant Curator of Philately, and Daniel Piazza (right), Chief Curator of Philately at the Smithsonian's National Postal Musuem share the 2016 Secretary's Research Prizes for their exhibit and catalog, "Freedom Just Around the Corner: Black America from Civil War to Civil Rights." Congratulations, Calvin and Dan!
Rosina Major interview
with Lloyd A. de Vries
ClicClick on picture for interview
ESPER Day at the National Postal Museum and
the African American Civil War Museum
​
Members are in front Annie Strives, Alan Cecilio and Walter Faison.
ESPER, members having dinner at Metro Train Station. Seated at top table is Joan Williams. On her left is Della Moses Walker, Julia Leak, Charlene Blair, Don Conway, Ricky Johnson, Rosina Major, Clarence McKnight, Sandra Cook-McKnight, Foster Miller, and Calvin Mitchellat at the other end of table. On Joan right are Oneal Tyler, unknown lady, another unknown lady, Mani Gilyard, Vernetta Nelson, Walter Faison, Warachal Faison and Alan Cecillo.
Members are in front Annie Strives, Alan Cecilio and Walter Faison.
ClicOctober 3, 2015
ESPER at WSS-NY2016
Dorothy Height poster was created special for this exhibit.
Dorothy Height poster was created special for this exhibit.
St. Marks UMC in Montclair, N. J.
Black History Month 2017
Black History Month Stamp Presentation
at Elementary school in Maryland
2017
(Click on photo for special page)
ESPER was a big hit at WSS-NY2016
Exhibit and PowerPoint presentation
by Clarence McKnight, Webmaster
Classroom presentation
by Clarence McKnight, Webmaster
By Natalie Shinault and Earnest Shinault Sr.
Click on picture for exhibit information
C. Aiden and young daughter making a cachet.
ESPER, members and guest after the meeting.
Presentation by
Tony Thaxton, Jr.
Atlanta Chapter Director
First Day of Sale event in Jersey City, N.J.
Event coordinated by New Jersey Chapter Director Della Moses Walker
Dr. Warachal Faison, ESPER's
Social Media Administrator
interview with Lloyd A. de Vries
African-American Stamp Ceremonies Videos
Stamp Ceremonies Photos
Dorothy Height Special "Forever"
Stamp Unveiling in New York
Dorothy Height Special "Forever"
Stamp Unveiling in New York
Women's percussive and vocal ensemble led by Joan Ashley (second from the right)
Event was held at African Burial Ground National Monument on June 20, 2017
Kwanzaa Ceremony in Charleston, S.C
Dorothy Height Ceremony Photo Page
The first-day-of-issue ceremony for the new Kwanzaa Forever stamp was held on Sat., Oct. 1, 2016 in Charleston, SC’s at the MOJA Art Festival.
Jaime Escalante Ceremony
Jaime Escalante ceremony was held July 13, 2016 during the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) 87th annual convention and exposition in Washington, DC
Robert Robinson Taylor DC Ceremony
Maya Angelou Ceremony in NYC
Richard Allen Ceremony in
Philadelphia, Pa
Maya Angelou DC Ceremony
Mistress of Ceremony
Great granddaugter and White House Senior Advisor to President Obama.
Signing after Robert Robinson Taylor ceremony..
Mistress of Ceremony
African Burial Ground National Monument in Lower Manhattan
Ceremony podium/stage
"Skulls" artwork in ABGNM visitor's center foyer
African Burial Ground National Monument in Lower Manhattan
Robert Robinson Taylor, believed to have been both the first African-American graduate of the Massa-chusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and the nation’s first academically trained Black architect, was inducted into the Postal Service’s Black Heritage Stamp series on February 12, 2015, as the 38th honoree.
The Maya Angelou first day ceremony was held on April 7, 2015, at the Warner Theatre in Washington, DC. MSNBC talk show host Melisssa Harris-Perry served as the master of ceremonies.
Dancers from the Duke Ellington School of the Arts.
Melissa Harris-Perry
L to R: Eleanor Traylor, Nikke Giovanni, First Lady Michelle Obama, Postmaster General Megan J Brennan,Oprah Winfrey and Ross Rossin
Dancers from the Duke Ellington School of the Arts.
Richard Allen Ceremony in
East Orange, NJ
Sarah Vaughan Ceremony in Newark, NJ
National Museum of African American History and Culture First Day Ceremony Photos
Snowy Days Ceremony Photos
Casim Gomez, East Orange City Councilman; Osner Charles, Acting Director East Orange Department of Recreation & Cultural Affairs; Lester Taylor lll, Mayor of East Orange; Tracey Hollingsworth, Project Leader, USPS Northern NJ District; Betty Banks, Postmaster of East Orange, Steven Hernandez, District Manger USPS Northern NJ District; Clarence McKnight; Rev. Dr. Kenneth Mitchem, Paster of St. Mark A.M.E. Church, East Orange.
ESPER members Clarence McKnight, Jane Mays, Della Moses Walker and Richard Hazard
Casim Gomez, East Orange City Councilman; Osner Charles, Acting Director East Orange Department of Recreation & Cultural Affairs; Lester Taylor lll, Mayor of East Orange; Tracey Hollingsworth, Project Leader, USPS Northern NJ District; Betty Banks, Postmaster of East Orange, Steven Hernandez, District Manger USPS Northern NJ District; Clarence McKnight; Rev. Dr. Kenneth Mitchem, Paster of St. Mark A.M.E. Church, East Orange.
Ronald Stroman, Deputy Postmaster General and Chief Government Relations Officer, USPS
Dianne Reeves, Grammy Award-Winning Jazz Vocalist
Warachal Faison, Clarence McKnight, Bill Carreker, Elizabeth Rankin-Fulcher, Foster Milller, Don Conway, Don Neal, Annie Strivers, Bob Fields, Rosina Major, Farnese Hicks, and Della Moses Walker
Ronald Stroman, Deputy Postmaster General and Chief Government Relations Officer, USPS
Gerald A. Roane, postmaster Washington,D.C., Ronald A. Stroman, Deputy Postmaster and Chief,Lonnie Bunch, Founder and Director of Museum and David Rubenstein, Smithsonian Board of Regents Chair.
Dana Tyler, WCBS-TV news anchor.
Author Andrea Davis Pinkney
Dana Tyler, WCBS-TV news anchor.