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This Day on January 4: Gun inventor, Samuel Colt, sells his 0.44 caliber revolvers
Posted by Andy L. on
On January 4th, 1847, a turning point in American history occurred not on a battlefield, but in a quiet government office. Samuel Colt, a struggling inventor, secured a contract to supply the U.S. Army with 1,000 of his revolutionary .44 caliber revolvers. This seemingly mundane transaction transformed Colt's fortunes, cemented his place in history as the "Gunmaker of the West," and even found its way onto a series of collectible stamps, commemorating the impact of his invention. Before Colt's innovation, handguns were clunky, inaccurate, and often single-shot affairs. The revolver, with its rotating cylinder, offered unprecedented firepower and speed, making...
Coming Soon! MSDA WI-IL Stateline Stamp Show
Posted by Andy L. on
This Day on December 28: Auguste and Louis Lumière released their first commercial movie screening at the Grand Cafe in Paris, France.
Posted by Andy L. on
Imagine a darkened room, anticipation crackling in the air as flickering light dances on a white sheet. Gasps erupt as a train hurtles towards the audience, seemingly bursting from the screen. This wasn't a figment of the imagination, but the revolutionary experience that unfolded on December 28, 1895, at the Grand Café in Paris. The architects of this cinematic magic? Auguste and Louis Lumière, two French brothers who not only invented the cinematograph but also ushered in the era of modern cinema. And what better way to commemorate their groundbreaking achievement than through the captivating lens of postage stamps? From...
This Day on December 21: James Naismith introduces the first game of basketball
Posted by Andy L. on
It's not just a net and an orange ball. Basketball, a sport that electrifies crowds worldwide, originated from a simple yet ingenious idea sparked in a YMCA gymnasium in Springfield, Massachusetts, on December 15, 1891. The mastermind behind this global phenomenon? Dr. James Naismith, a Canadian physical education instructor seeking to keep his students active during a rainy winter. Naismith's invention not only revolutionized indoor sports but also fostered a spirit of teamwork, athleticism, and community that transcended borders and cultures. And what better way to commemorate this cultural juggernaut than through the colorful prism of postage stamps? From the...