CHEMISTRY
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JAMES 0 SCHRECK Un~versrtv01 Northern Colorado Greeley. CO 80639 .-
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C. MARVINLANG Unlversltv of Wscons~n Stevens Pomt W 5448 1
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Introduction to Chemistry on Stamps James 0. Schreck University of Northern Colorado. Greeley. CO 80639 C. Mawin Lang University of Wisconsin. Stevens Point, WI 54481 Collecting postage stamps is an old and widespread hohby; however, no collector can hope to keep up with the vast number of stamps issued. Currently there are over 1500 countries, governments, and government administrations issuing thousands of new stamps each year (I). An interesting form of specialized collecting is topical collecting (collecting by subject matter). There are over 350 possible topics (3, and the topic of "science" is a popular one. Many countries have issued stamps to commemorate scientific events or honor scientists. In some cases the number of stamns in a given science is so great that handhookslguides neeh to he nrenared. One such handhooklenide on zooloeical suhiects appeared over 30 years ago (3). There is a wealth of material for teachina chemistrv with stamps depicting well-known scientists (chemists) or chemistrv-related events. Even thouah no such detailed comoilatio" as that on zoological subjects described above has been published in chemistry, there are several resources available for chemistry teachers if they want to incorporate postage stamps in teaching chemistry. Each issue of Chem 13News ( 4 ) carries a auarter-oaee descriotion of an individual on a &mp. ~ r t i c l e shaveGa;peared using stamps to describe or nortrav the histow of chemistrv. (5). . . . analvtical chemists (6). and thk history of"spectroscopy (7). One lhemistry textbook has soarinelv included stamps deoictina scientists and (8).Philatelia chemical concepts throughout i h e text Chimica is a suarterlv publication dealing with stamps related to chen;istry. A iecent issue of THIS JOURNAL informed readers how to obtain this publication and invited them to join the Chemistry-on-Stamps Study Unit (9). Philatelia Chimica is sent to members of this Unit. It has been our experience that, whether in a typical classroom lecture or in a technical slide presentation, most peo.ole.. even those who are not nursuine".ohilatelv as a hohhv... will show signs of interest when certain stamps are brought to their attention. Some examnlesof starnos that dealsoecifically with chemistry are shown on the cover of this issue of THIS JOURNAL and identified on page 1042. These stamps depict Dimitri Mendeleev (no. I),the Rnssian chemist who invented the Periodic Tahle. The centenary of the American Chemical Society was honored in 1976 (no. 2). This stamp shows various flasks and a separatory funnel. The cornp& tape in the background signifies the increasing important role computers have in chemistry. The structural formula of nenicillin and its discoverer. Alexander Fleming, are portrayed on the Hungarian stamp (nu. 3). The beautiful,. fierv - disolusof firewvrksshownonstamo no. 4 is a consequence of chemistry (10). Ball-and-stick models of molecules can he found on stamps such as the urea model on stamp no. 5. Many countries have issued stamps to publicize
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conversion to the metric svstem. The Australian stamp (no. 6) is one example. ~ e c h n i q u e commonly s used in the laboratory have been illustrated on stamps as shown by the starch chromatogram (stamp no. 7). Although a physicist, Amadeo Avoaadro and his famous hypothesis, with his signature and the hypothesis written in Italian, are shown on itamp no. 8. An interesting display is shown on stamps no. 9. These Chinese stamps, honoring the chemical fiber industry, were printed se-tenant in continuous design. The collection of stamos shown here is onlv a samole and does not exhaust the possibilities of scientists, chemical concents. formulas. and industw found on stamns. Manv other ktamps are available a i d new issues &e forthcoming each vear. The challenee. of course. is to he alert to recognize stamps which have chemical significance because many stamps hear no label, title, or identification. A good example is the 1983 USA Joseph Priestley stamp (no. 10). Increased interest in chemical philately is due, in part, to the chemical exposition held in conjunction with the ACS national meeting in Washington, D.C. in August 1983 (11). The "Chemistry in Philately" exhibit brought together for the first time a significant hody of postal material germane to the science of chemistry. This exhibit contained about 2600 stamps (not all different) mounted in 88 frames. The 37 displays were cosponsored by the ACS divisions of Chemical Education and theHistory of Chemistry. I t included papers1 exhibits that dealt with such varied tooics on stamos as organic chemicals; analytical chemists; chemical formulas, structures. and models: Louis Pasteur: Joseph Priestlev: .. stamps relating to the discovery and isolation of the elements; and stamps dealing with scientific unity and constants. Titles of topical subjects are provided in Tahle 1. has received several manuscripts on the The JOURNAL general subject of chemistry on stamps. In general, these papers have one unifyingtheme. Each is related to the teaching of chemistry. Chemistry on Stamps will he a mini-series describing the usefulness of postage stamps as teaching tools, the history of the chemical science as depicted on postage stamps, and specific chemical concepts presented throueh the medium of oostaee stamps. Each Daner . . in the series will contnin 1)il)liographicreference material and philatelic citations of the significant chemically related stamps. Renders interested in cuntributinp mnnuscripts in this series are invited to submit them to the Jor'RNAL. One article in this series will appear every two months. Authors should use the format and bibliographic procedure for citing postage stamps as shown in Tahle 2. A detailed check-list of chemical stamps is planned as a future article to he published a t the completion of the mini-series. Volume 62
Number 12 December 1985
1041
Tooical Svblects a t "Chemistrv in Phllatelv" Exoorltiona
Table 1.
TRle
Exhibitor
The Joseph Priestley Commemorative Stamp and the First Day Sowenir Card (American Institute of Chemists)
D. A. Davenport D. A. H. Roethe1
The ACS Postage Stamps of 1951 and 1976 Chemical Philately: Chemists and Their Chemistry Commemoratedan Stamps Chemical Formulas, Structures, and Mcdels an Stamps Stamps Related to Scientific Units and Constants Chemistry-on-Stamps Study Unit of the American Topical Association The World of Chemistry in Stamps: The Stained-Glass Windows 01 the Cathedral of Chemistry Maximum Cards. Souvenir Sheets, Engravers' Proofs, and FirrtDay Ccvers of Chemical Subjects Philately at the Pinsburgh Conferences and Expositions 1977-83 The Laboratory Equation The Discovery and Isolation of the Elements The American Chemical Society 75th Anniversary Stamp of 1951 Louis Pasteur-A Philatelic Commemoration US. Chemislq Stamps and Covers Patent Medicine Tax Stamps Science an Trade Cards Revenue Starnos of Wisconsin 11933 to the Present1 Organic Cnemicais on Stamp% Analytical Chemists on Portage Stamps Chemists and Chemistry on Postage Stamps Closet Chemists Chemicals, Chemistry, and Chemists on Some European Stamps FintOay Coven of the 1951 ACS Commemorative Forestry and Timber Industries: Our Only Replaceable Resources ACS Centennial Celebration Development through Science and Technology Selected Stamps Related to Chemical and Other Industries Nobel Laureates on Stamps New Zealand Stamps Tell a Story Display Contributed by Display Contributed by Display Contributed by Display Contributed by Display Contributed by 1976 Chemistry Stamp 1983 Joseoh Prlestlev Stam0
J. J. Doheny C. M. Lang F. A. Miller F. A. Milier F. A. Miller R. M. Lawrence R. M. Lawrence R. E. Witkowski, E. S. Hcdge M. A. Brooks M.A.Brmks D. F. Zinkei D. F. Zinkel 0. C. Elmer D. E. Green M. R. Feldman, J. Feldman D. E. Berryman. C. M. Lang P. J. Chenier A. H. Ullman W. L. Dilling. R. S. Dilling 0. B. Ramsay, R. Ceo A. E. Pavlath B. J. Gedean. B. Newton 8. B. Thomas E. W. Hoiroyd. Jr. United Nations Postal Administration Taiwan Postal Administration Sweden Postal Adminishation New Zealand Postal Administration Israel Postal Administration Norway Postal Administration Mexico Postal Administration Kenya Postal Administration Brazil Postal Administration United States Postal Service United States Postal Service
A Perforated History of Chemistry
*AmericanChemical Soclety. Wanhlngton. D.C.. August 2831. 1983
I d e n t l l c a t l o n and Description of Stamps
Table 2.
Stamp Number 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Issuing Country Russia USA Hungary Afghanistan Germany Australia Great Britain ltalv ~~~, People's USA Republic of China
9 10
Year of 151.~~ 1969 1976 1981 1973 1982 1973 1977 1956 .... 1976 1983
Scott Catalog Number 3607 1685 2699 887 1379 542 808 714 . .. 1405-09 2038
Literature Cned (1) Scott Standard Poatagatag Stamp Catatwe. Scott Pubhhing Co., 3 E. 5'7th St., New
York.NY 1W22. WI 53216. (2) American Tapiesl Assoc'~ssoc'tiii, 3306NorthS(lthStmt, MiIw~~k~~, (3) Way. W. D. and Staoden, 0. D., "2oolom in Paatage Sfampa", H-y and Blythe, I.nnrlnn . 8951 .... (4i (a1Chem 13~ewe,Departmpartmtof~hemistry,univenityofwatete~~,ontario.cam da N2L 3G1: (b1Bowtey,R., Chem IBNew3,6 (October 1983). (5) Chsm. Eng. Neua,l2 (September 29,1969). (6) Ulman, A,, A n d Cham. 54.780A (1982). (7) Miller, F. A,, Applied Speelro. 37,219 (1983). (8) Berlow. P.:Burton, D. J.. and Routh, J. I.. "Intzoduetion to the Chemistry of Lib," Saunders College Publishing. New York, 1982. (91 Hadga.E.,J. CHZM.EDuC., 60.123(1983). (101 Conkling, J. S., "Chemi8ky of Fireworks," Chem Eng. News, 24 (June 29, 1981); Girone, N.J., "Baaom!", CHEMTECH, 326 (June 19821. (11) Cham. En& New 52 (September 12, 1983); "Chemistry in Philately'? A Postal ~rhibitco-sponsoredby t h e ~ ~ ~ ~ i n s i o n a o f ~ h ~ m i e ~ ~ u e a t i o n a n d ~ i l t w o f Chemislry. C. M. Lang and J. J. Doheny, Organizers. Washingtan, D.C., Avguat 1983.
Chemistry on Stamps
1042
Journal of Chemical Education
