Carl Sagan was an inspiration to a generation of astronomers, skeptics, and just average folks. He was able to take the beauty, complexity, and breath-taking awe of the Universe and bring it down to us, show it to us, and make us understand it.
If ever there was a guy who deserves to have a stamp commemorating him, it is Sagan.
Cornell University, where he worked for many years, is unveiling four different stamps in honor of Sagan. My favorite is by my friend Pat Linse (she does the artwork for Michael Shermer’s Skeptic magazine). It shows Sagan’s twin passions: astronomy (the comet) and critical thinking (his masterpiece book The Demon Haunted World was subtitled Science as a Candle in the Dark).
The official unveiling to the public is February 28, and when I learn more about how we can help the US Postal Service adopt these stamps, I’ll post about it.
February 14th, 2008 at 3:04 pm
People still send mail? With stamps? Like, by truck?
February 14th, 2008 at 3:25 pm
@Carey: Har har har. Very funny.
I’m looking forward to see how these stamps could be approved.
February 14th, 2008 at 3:27 pm
You know how I feel about licking those I admire. I’m totally there.
February 14th, 2008 at 3:27 pm
Must resist Billions and Billions joke!
February 14th, 2008 at 3:27 pm
Stamps are 41 cents now?
February 14th, 2008 at 3:32 pm
This is going to drive creationists and ID creationists absolutely nuts!
February 14th, 2008 at 3:33 pm
These should be “Forever” stamps, if anything should be.
February 14th, 2008 at 3:36 pm
cool stamps.
February 14th, 2008 at 3:45 pm
After that clip with Colbert and the meteorite, I was a bit worried when I saw the title…
February 14th, 2008 at 3:55 pm
I licked my monitor when I saw him. Staticy.
February 14th, 2008 at 3:59 pm
It’s hard to believe he’s been gone for over ten years (aside from US Presidents, commemorative stamps of people can only be issued after they have been deceased for at least ten years).
February 14th, 2008 at 4:02 pm
Very nice! Now all I need friends I can write letters to.
(Just kidding, I have friends.)
February 14th, 2008 at 4:46 pm
Shouldn’t the value state “41 Billion nanocents”?
February 14th, 2008 at 4:52 pm
Pity it’s not a 42-cent stamp. Perhaps they’re reserving those for Douglas Adams.
~David D.G.
February 14th, 2008 at 5:15 pm
As Nemo mentioned, these really need to be ‘Forever Stamps.’ That’s all I buy anymore. And since postage rates are going up again this spring, we wouldn’t have long to use a 41 cent stamp.
February 14th, 2008 at 5:46 pm
They really should put him on a coin, but this will do for now.
February 14th, 2008 at 6:02 pm
I do not think there is a billions and billions denomination in US currency.
February 14th, 2008 at 6:31 pm
Great stamp! Carl Sagan really did the world a great favor with Cosmos & his many books(and his work with NASA). It is always sad that he is not with us anymore.
February 14th, 2008 at 7:15 pm
I guess this would be better diected at Cornell…but shouldn’t the denomination on those stamps have a little slash through it, to serve as a pseudo-postmark? Or is that all old hat these days?
February 14th, 2008 at 7:19 pm
BA,
Most US stamps these days don’t require licking.
The US postal rate goes up to 42 cents in May 2008.
February 14th, 2008 at 8:35 pm
They need to print “billions and billions” of these!
February 14th, 2008 at 8:53 pm
About damn time. Carl was awesome and still is. It’s too bad we don’t have someone as skilled at communicating the wonder of science to the masses today. We could sure use it.
February 14th, 2008 at 9:28 pm
I hope the BA won’t take any offense at that remark, Ian.
Actually, it isn’t just about being ABLE to communicate; timing & willingness play a big factor, too. I think the timing is right for someone to to re-activate that collective sense of wonder. I just hope there are enough people willing to listen to the message…
February 15th, 2008 at 12:13 am
Excellent news.
Does anyone know how to get US postage stamps outside of US? If not…then someone has to send me a letter with it :p
Does Feynman has a stamp too?
February 15th, 2008 at 4:00 am
I had the privilege of attending Dr. Sagan’s lecture at Penn State while I was a grad student. That and Cosmos, the book and TV series, was an inspiration to many. My vote is for stamp number 1.
February 15th, 2008 at 4:53 am
Oh boy, you made me spit out my orange juice with that title!!!
Agh, now my keyboard’s sticky…
February 15th, 2008 at 5:38 am
I WANT that stamp!
February 15th, 2008 at 7:13 am
Your title kept me from reading this for quite a while.
February 15th, 2008 at 8:44 am
They should have one where he’s playing the electric guitar. Doesn’t matter that he didn’t play it. It’d just look cool.
Here in Canada we have a stamp with former Prime-Minister Robert Borden playing the electric guitar. Next to the robot fighting the cat it’s the most popular stamp we have.
February 15th, 2008 at 9:17 am
That really stinks. Someone cool on a stamp, and they’ll be raising the rate weeks after it comes out.
Carl Sagan should have had a “Forever” stamp.
February 15th, 2008 at 10:06 am
Too bad he looks like a disco dancer.
February 15th, 2008 at 10:57 am
That meteor is about to annihilate the earth and he’s just sitting on his keister smiling.
February 15th, 2008 at 1:06 pm
After reading up on the requirements here:
http://www.usps.com/communications/organization/csac.htm
it looks like the May postage increase won’t be a concern. From the USPS website:
“Stamp proposals are to be submitted in writing to the Citizens’ Stamp Advisory Committee. This allows everyone the same opportunity to suggest a new stamp subject. Subjects should be submitted at least three years in advance of the proposed date of issue to allow sufficient time for consideration and for design and production, if the subject is approved. All eligible subjects are reviewed by the Citizens’ Stamp Advisory Committee regardless of how they are submitted, i.e., stamped cards, letters or petitions.”
So if the stamp gets approved, we may not see it until 2011.
I hope it happens and am torn between the design that the BA posted and the one by Lisa Hutter and Chris Fix.
February 15th, 2008 at 5:06 pm
carl is an inspiration to me, with quotes like “we are a way for the universe to knwo itself”, bring a tingle down my back
i will be in ithaca during there ithaca festival at the end of may, date not yet set. i am a member of the sagan apreciation society (sas), we will have a 1st annual “Gathering”. my sister has siad she will come, so i hope more people will attend. see you there
February 18th, 2008 at 12:51 am
I think any design involving Sagan should include the “Pale Blue Dot” image.