ITALIAN-THEMED STAMPS

The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) has issued a colorful set of four Italian coffee drinks, i.e. caffe latte, caffe mocha, cappuccino, and espresso, in a booklet of 20 “forever” stamps, each valued at 55 cents, with five of each of the four drinks in each booklet. The first day of issue ceremony took place in Seattle, Washington, on April 9, 2021. The booklets will be on sale for $11 each at all local post offices until April 8, 2022. Also, the USPS has issued a sheet of 20 same-image “forever” (55-cent) stamps honoring Lawrence Peter (Yogi) Berra (1925-2015), on June 24, 2021.

A smiling Yogi is shown wearing a New York Yankees baseball cap and a catcher’s chest protector. A partial view of a catcher’s mitt is also seen. The first day of issue ceremony took place in the Yogi Berra Museum & Learning Center on the grounds of Montclair State University in Little Falls, New Jersey, on June 24, 2021. The stamp image of Yogi is based upon a portrait painted by artist, Charles Chaisson, from a photo taken by the Associated Press. The sheets will be available for purchase for $11 each at all local post offices until June 23, 2022. Yogi Berra served in World War II as a gunner on a rocket-launching ship during the D-Day invasion of Normandy, France. He made his major league debut in 1946.

In his 18 years with the Yankees, Yogi won three Most Valuable Player (MVP) Awards and a record ten World Series rings. He holds numerous World Series batting records and was an All-Star for the American League 15 consecutive years. When his uniform number 8 was retired by the Yankees, he was also honored with a plaque in Monument Park next to Yankee Stadium. He led both the Yankees and the New York Mets to the World Series as a manager. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York, in 1972.