Lorri Browne, age 13, of Issaquah, Wash., for her question:

What is a commemorative stamp?

The year 1893 was the 400th anniversary of the discovery of the New World by Columbus. Naturally, Everyone wanted to commemorate the great Event and show their respect. The U.S. Post Office issued its first commemorative Stamp, and the limited number of stamps made was called the Columbian issue in honor of you know who.

The idea was popular, and the Post Office made a custom of issuing commemorative stamps. We now get a new one almost every month. Sometimes we commemorate a national park or some other scenic wonder. Sometimes the stamp honors an art or a science. Sometimes it shows our respect for a great man or Woman. But a commemorative stamp is not issued until after the death of the person to whom we wish to show our respect.