Art Postal started as a way for me to honor the legacy of two people: my paternal grandmother, a member of the Polish Underground Army, codename “the Seagull,” and my great-uncle, on my husband’s side of the family, a medic in the U.S. Navy, “the Collector.” As is often the case, I did not realize how profound their impact on my life was until they were gone. But the legacy they left me gave me the idea that allows me to share their story through the unique and artistic designs.

The Seagull

My grandmother, a short, dark-haired, strong woman, could be both kind and stern. She always grew forget-me-nots and tulips in her yard and sang me songs from the war as lullabies. She prepared a feast when she first met my husband. At the same time, she took me aside and explained how to use a kitchen knife to protect myself if necessary. Her house had no running water or plumbing for most of her life and it was heated with coal which she carried daily to the kitchen from outside storage. She showed me how to crochet, milk a cow, can bell peppers, and kill, pluck, and dress a chicken. She spent her life with my grandfather who suffered life-long consequences of World War II, and she raised five sons in a rented room of her aunt’s house. I am sure she lived through situations which I cannot even imagine, and her perseverance is a daily inspiration for me.

The Collector

My great-uncle was an avid collector of coins, postcards, glass, spoons, and pretty much anything else collectible. But more than anything, he loved stamps, cats, and classical music. Traveling the world as part of the U.S. Navy medical unit, he developed a love for this hobby and in over 50 years created an incredible collection of stamps from around the world. I met him when he was already retired. He spent hours going through boxes of stamps he had bought from a friend, examining them, choosing the ones he needed, and organizing them. He sat in his sun room at a small desk, with a lamp/magnifying glass contraption on his head and a pair of tweezers in hand, poring over his collection. That is how I would find him every time we visited. And my husband and I would sit there with him looking at the stamps, though not really understanding the art behind the collection.  He showed us his new acquisitions and the Polish, German, and other European albums.  When asked which ones he enjoyed looking at the most, he always pulled out the stamps with cats on them. 

The Legacy

The legacy left behind by the Seagull and the Collector is more than the value of their things and their families. Their lives, shaped by war, showed perseverance, growth, and appreciation. I know there are stories in their lives that died with them, because they were too difficult to tell. There are stories in their lives that we cherish, because they guide us on our journey. These two people lived half a world apart and they never met each other but they made this venture possible.

Art Postal

Art Postal is a way to incorporate history into the modern world and it offers a way for me to cherish the memory of people I love. When I first started taking an interest in postage stamps, I was surprised by the many misconceptions that existed about them and by how contentious they could be. Whether it be an image on the stamp, the country where it was issued, or the current market value (or lack thereof). One of the most common comments on various stamp-related forums is that the stamps have no value, other than the one the collector/owner perceives. That can be a disheartening realization. What I learned, though, is that the value of the stamp is often not in the stamp itself but instead in what it represents. Every stamp incorporated into my design has the potential to be a meaningful piece of history for you or your loved ones. Many of the Art Postal stamps do carry catalog and market value, but their meaning goes beyond the historical importance of its rarity, watermark, perforation, and cancellation. The legacy of the Seagull and the Collector lives in these designs. My hope is that you find in my designs the piece that represents the connection that you have with those who are important to you.