For a long time the Postmaster General decided what should go on stamps.
However, when Congress began passing legislation requiring certain subjects
be honored, in 1957 the Postmaster General created a committee to review
the ideas of the entire public.
The
Citizen's Stamp Advisory Committee, a group of 12 to 15 members appointed
by the Postmaster General, considers about 50,000 ideas a year, most of
which come from the American public. The Committee then recommends about
35 new subjects for commemorative stamps each year to the Postmaster General.
The
Postmaster General makes the final decision. To ensure consistent and
fair consideration of all proposals, the Committee has established standards
of eligibility for stamp designs. One such standard is that no living
person can be depicted on a U.S. stamp and, except for former Presidents,
an individual cannot be commemorated until at least 10 years following
death. This allows the person's accomplishments to be viewed in the appropriate
historical perspective. The exception allows a means of special recognition
for past Presidents each of whom is honored with a memorial stamp on the
first birthday following their death.
After
a stamp subject has been selected, the Committee commissions an artist
to undertake the project and the artist begins drawing preliminary 
designs.
The designs are presented to the Citizen's Stamp Advisory Committee for
its comments. The Commitee then makes recommendations to the Postmaster
General who makes the final decision. Once the final design is selected,
the Bureau of Engraving and Printing or an outside contractor prints the
stamp. The stamps are then perforated and inspected for flaws. The finished
stamps are sent to post offices and held for date of issue. Finally, the
stamps go on sale at post offices nationwide.
Please keep in mind that the Citizen's Stamp Advisory Committee does have guidelines and criteria that you must consider before submitting a stamp design. Should you be interested in submitting design ideas, please visit the United States Postal Service site located at http://www.usps.com/communications/organization/csac.htm for more details.
Now that you have a basic understanding of how stamps came to be, how they have changed through the years, and how and who decides what is pictured on a stamp, let's start collecting stamps! Click here to learn how to get started in the hobby.
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