The U.S. Postal Service has issued 44-cent Justices of the Supreme Court of the United States commemorative stamps in four designs in a pressure-sensitive sheet. With the issuance of these stamps, the Postal Service honors the contributions of Associate Justices Joseph Story, Louis D. Brandeis, Felix Frankfurter, and William J. Brennan, Jr.

The stamps, designed by Lisa Catalone-Castro and Rodolfo Castro of Bethesda, MD, are on sale nationwide.

Joseph Story ranks as one of the nation’s most influential jurists. The author of dozens of volumes of legal commentary, Story—who viewed law as a science—gave shape to American jurisprudence while also making the law more accessible to practicing attorneys.

Louis D. Brandeis was the associate justice most responsible for helping the Supreme Court shape the tools it needed to interpret the Constitution in light of the sociological and economic conditions of the 20th century. A progressive and champion of reform, Brandeis devoted his life to social justice.

Felix Frankfurter was arguably one of the most enigmatic and controversial figures ever to sit on the Supreme Court. As the Court’s strongest proponent of judicial restraint, Frankfurter—who served 23 years as an associate justice—believed that judges should disregard their own social views when making decisions.

William J. Brennan, Jr., the author of numerous landmark decisions and the inspiration behind many others, believed that law is an essential force for social and political change. Brennan—the Court’s most determined opponent of the death penalty—championed equal rights for all citizens and steadfastly regarded the Constitution as a living document that should be interpreted to fit modern life.

Customers have 90 days from the official first day of issuance date to obtain first day of sale postmarks on new stamps and stationery items. Collectors may request a local first day of sale postmark by mail only. There is no charge for servicing of first day of sale postmarks up to 50 covers. Mail-in customers must supply a self-addressed envelope with sufficient return postage applied to return the serviced covers.

To obtain the first day of sale postmark, mail stationery items bearing Justices of the Supreme Court of the United States stamps to: Customer Relations USPS, 79 Mid Cape Terr Ste 8, Cape Coral, FL 33991. Please specify which city you are requesting a postmark for—Fort Myers, Cape Coral, or Naples; if not specified, the postmark applied will be for the return address city. All orders must be postmarked by December 23, 2009.

For more information about purchasing stamps, stamps by mail, postal regulations, a free subscription to USA Philatelic magazine, Post Office events, the location of the nearest postal store or contract unit, or for answers to your specific Postal Service questions, contact USPS at 1-800-275-8777, or visit www.usps.com. To schedule a presentation for your community, club or group on how the Postal Service brings the Post Office to your home or office computer, call 239-573-9638.

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