This summer feels especially hot to me. I don’t know if it is just my age or if it seems hotter than usual this year than in the past. When it is hot, I think about foods that are cool, especially desserts. Since I was thinking about frozen desserts, I thought I would see if the USPS thought about it too and found the booklet of frozen treats! I remember eating popsicles when I was growing up and even my children ate them when they were growing up.
The US Postal Service issued the 50¢ Frozen Treats stamps (US #5285-94) - its first scratch and sniff stamps on June 20, 2018 in Austin, Texas. It comes as a double-sided booklet of 20 where each stamp shows two different popsicles. The scent of these stamps is supposed to remind customers of summer smells while sending mail. The watercolor pictures of the popsicles are the work of Margaret Berg. The design was created by Antonio Alcala and Leslie Badani, both of Alexandria, VA.
The history of popsicles is a fascinating story that dates back to the early 20th century. It all began in 1905 with an 11-year-old boy named Frank Epperson, who lived in San Francisco. One cold night, Frank accidentally left a cup filled with a powdered soda mix, water, and a stirring stick outside on his porch. Overnight, the mixture froze solid. The next morning, Frank discovered that he could hold the frozen treat by the stick, making it easy to eat. He called it the "Epsicle," combining his last name with "icicle."
Frank enjoyed making these frozen treats for his friends and family, but it wasn't until 1923 that he decided to turn his invention into a business. By then, he was an adult and saw the potential for his "Epsicles" to be a hit. He started selling them at an amusement park in California. His children loved the frozen treats and began calling them "Pop's 'sicles." This name caught on, and soon they were known as "Popsicles."
In 1924, Frank Epperson applied for a patent for his frozen treat on a stick. The Popsicle quickly gained popularity, especially during the hot summer months. Over the years, the Popsicle has evolved, and many different flavors and varieties have been created, including twin Popsicles that can be broken in half to share.
Today, Popsicles are enjoyed by people of all ages around the world. They come in a wide range of flavors, from classic favorites like cherry and grape to more adventurous options like mango and coconut. The simple idea of freezing a sweet liquid around a stick has become a beloved treat that brings joy to countless people, especially on warm, sunny days.
Scratch-and-sniff technology is a fun and interesting way to experience different scents using your nose. It all started in the 1960s when Dr. Gale Matson and his team at the 3M Company developed this technology. The idea was to create tiny capsules that could hold a scent and release it when scratched.
First, the scents are captured inside tiny capsules made of a material like gelatin or plastic. These capsules are so small that you can’t see them with your eyes. This process is called microencapsulation. These tiny scent capsules are then mixed with ink and printed onto paper or another surface. This way, the scent is stored on the material without being released. When you scratch the surface, you break open the tiny capsules. This releases the scent that was trapped inside, and you can smell it!
Scratch-and-sniff technology is used in many different ways. You might find it in magazines, where you can scratch and sniff perfume samples, or in children's books and stickers that release fun smells like fruits or flowers. It’s also used for educational purposes, helping kids learn about different scents, and in some medical settings, to help patients with smell therapy.
These stamps add a bit of fun and happiness to your mail! So, the next time you send a letter, you might get to use one of these delightful Frozen Treats stamps and share a bit of summer joy with the person who receives it!
References:https://about.usps.com/news/national-releases/2018/pr18_047.htmhttps://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/chemical-engineering/microencapsulationhttps://www.mysticstamp.com/5285-94-2018-first-class-forever-stamp-frozen-treats/
