History and Heritage:

Sept.11,1968...

Postal Service issues first Walt Disney stamp:

  With help from than-California Gov. Ronald Reagan, the first postage stamp to honor Walt Disney debuted Sept.11,1968.

 Although the U.S.Postal Service has a policy requiring that an individual be deceased for 10 years before his or her image can grace a stamp, Reagan wrote to Postmaster General Lawrence F. O`Brien, persuading him to issue the stamp just two years after Walt's Death:

 "I hesitate to even mention California's pride in his vast accomplishments for fear of detracting from his true image as a world renowned and world beloved figure. There is no necessity, "Reagan wrote in a letter dated April3, 1967. "I'm sure, for me to itemize his contribution to humanity, they can be summed up by simply saying that because of him, the world is a richer, better, place."

 The six-cent stamp's design was a partnership between Paul Wenzel, who crafted Walt's portrait, and Bob Moore, who created the "it's a small world" dolls and Sleeping Beauty Castle artwork. Ceremonies on the first day of issue were held in Marceline, Mo., Walt's boyhood hometown, and more than 150 million of the stamps were sold over the next 10 days. A total of 36 more years would pass before another U.S. stamp would celebrate Walt Disney.

Just for you're information, I have 4 of these stamps from 1968, a lady in Berkeley, California knew about my employment with the Walt Disney Company and about a month ago gave them to me...Wow..Dr Lee