‘Great Train Robbery’ Follows Letter of the Law With Stamp

The first narrative motion picture, “The Great Train Robbery,” is making history again, but not at theaters.

This time, it’s being commemorated on a U.S. postage stamp. Officials unveiled the stamp Monday at Knott’s Berry Farm, a ceremony complete with the reenactment of a train robbery at high noon.

The festivities were part of the U.S. Postal Service’s latest stamp series, honoring some of the most memorable people, places, events and trends of the 20th century. One stamp a day is being introduced through Feb. 3. The daily introductions began Jan. 5.

Each stamp commemorates the years from 1900 through 1919, postal service spokesman George Marsh said.

As part of the effort, the postal service soon will ask residents to nominate people, places or things depicting the 1950s through the end of the century.

Those stamps will be available over the next two years.

Beginning next month, ballots will be at post offices. Voters, Marsh said, will choose their top three choices of five categories: arts and entertainment, sports, people and events, science and technology, and lifestyle.

“We’re very excited about the series because the public hasn’t been able to vote on the subject of a stamp since the Elvis stamp,” Marsh said. “The postal service gets 40,000 ideas per year and only less than 100 ever make it on a stamp.”