I got the idea to build some small topical collections on individual US states from the APS site and their free topical album pages.

I thought it was a neat idea so I started with New Mexico. Why New Mexico? Because I've vacationed there in the last few years, had a great time, fell in love with the place and have lots of nice photos to replace the less than nice photos on the APS pages.

I've collected every stamp that goes with the New Mexico collection as singles. I have a few se-tenants to lay my hands on.

I've also come a long ways with Texas and between the two I got inspired to do a state from scratch without the help of APS pages pre-made for me.

I chose my home state of Louisiana and here's are the first Louisiana covers I've acquired.



Marking the 150th Anniversary of statehood in 1962 as a FDC and the Louisiana state flag which was part of a sheet of 50 issued for the American Bicentennial in 1976. Oddly the cover depicts the Louisiana State Capitol building in Baton Rouge but is postmarked in New Orleans.

This cover is a bit dinged up and is franked with what may have been the single most common stamp at that time but it commemorates the ground breaking of the Louisiana Superdome!

The last one is pretty neat. I was looking for something for LaSalle - an important figure in early Louisiana history when out of the clear blue it dawned on me, "Dude! You served a short time on the USS LaSalle!".

Off hunting for something postal about the USS LaSalle and not only did I find something but it's postmarked December 5, 1980 - I was on board that ship when this cover was canceled!

IF you decide you'd like to do a small topical collection on a US state I offer only one word of warning... one is fine... but if you do two or more watch out for states that were part of the Louisiana Purchase. It's part of their history and the 1903 Louisiana Purchase Centennial commemorative stamp ain't a cheap one and it'll show up every time!

what is that marking of union justice & confidence?

those are great man.. not sure if i will ever specialize in states specific .. if i did though hows is the material for Massachusetts?

"Union, Justice, Confidence" is the state motto of Louisiana, Aamer, it appears on the state seal and flag.