These vintage unused postage stamps will evoke a touch of whimsy and add personality to your mailings! Includes a total of FIVE (5) SETS OF FIVE (5) of the 22-cent unused vintage Seashells postage stamps shown in the photos. The face value of each individual stamp in this ‘se-tenant’ set of five stamps is 22-cents, for a total face value of $1.10 per se-tenant set of five connected stamps. There are 25 individual stamps included with this purchase, each with a face value of 22-cents. You may leave these se-tenant stamp sets connected or separate them as desired to suit your mailing needs.

STAMP INFORMATION:

• Stamp Names: “Frilled Dogwinkle”, “Reticulated Helmet”, “New England Neptune”, “Calico Scallop”, “Lightning Whelk”
• Series: Seashells
• Year Issued: 1985
• Face Value: 22 cents each stamp; $1.10 per set of five se-tenant stamps (USD)
• Topic(s): Shells, Ocean, Sea, Coastal, Nautical, Beach, Neutral, Wedding
• Color(s): Pink, Purple, Black, Brown, Multicolored
• Printing Method: Engraved
• Adhesion Type: Gummed (see below for adhesion instructions)
• Condition: Genuine Unused USPS Postage Stamps, Ready to Use for USPS Mailings, Mint Condition

GENUINE USPS POSTAGE: These unused vintage postage stamps are perfectly valid for use as current postage for mailing with USPS as long as you use the adequate amount of postage to achieve standard postage rates according to the weight of your mailing. Check current postage rates on the USPS website.

STAMP HISTORY: These 22¢ Seashells stamps were issued in 1985 to replace the “D” rate-change stamps that had appeared earlier that same year. Work on the designs had begun four years earlier, with an original release planned for 1984. However, the USPS delayed the issue until 1985 so the stamps could debut at the new first-class rate of 22¢. Designer Peter Cocci based the artwork on color photographs taken from the National Museum’s extensive seashell collection in Washington, D.C. The first-day ceremony took place at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, chosen to coincide with the 75th anniversary of the Boston Malacological Club, the second-oldest seashell club in the United States.

The stamps in these sets highlight two major groups of mollusks: univalves, which consist of a single shell and represent the largest class of mollusks, and bivalves, which consist of two hinged shells. Each of the five featured species can be found in North American waters. The Frilled Dogwinkle (Nucella lamellosa), found from Alaska to California, was printed in black and brown. The Reticulated Helmet (Cypraecassis testiculus), ranging from Texas to Brazil, was printed in black, brown, and purple. The New England Neptune (Neptunea decemcostata), found from Canada to Massachusetts, was printed in black and brown. The Calico Scallop (Argopecten gibbus), native to the Carolinas through Texas, was printed in black and purple. Finally, the Lightning Whelk (Busycon contrarium), also from the Carolinas to Texas, was printed in black, brown, and purple.

STAMP MEANING & SPIRITUAL SIGNIFICANCE: These seashell stamps carry a meaning that extends far beyond their postal use, reflecting the deep symbolic and spiritual significance of seashells themselves. Seashells have long represented the cycle of life, death, and rebirth, serving as reminders of resilience and transformation. Just as they protect the soft bodies of mollusks, shells are symbols of inner strength and spiritual protection, offering a sense of safety during vulnerable times. They also embody the mystery of the ocean, which is often seen as a metaphor for the subconscious, infinity, and the divine. In this way, seashells become messengers from the spiritual world, carrying wisdom and guidance. Their history as currency, such as wampum among Native Americans, ties them to prosperity and abundance, while their natural spirals and symmetry—echoing the Fibonacci sequence—connect them to sacred geometry, harmony, and the divine order of creation.

Each shell depicted on the stamps carries its own spiritual resonance. The Frilled Dogwinkle represents adaptability and endurance, thriving in rugged coastal environments. The Reticulated Helmet, with its armor-like form, symbolizes strength and protection. The New England Neptune, named for the Roman god of the sea, suggests the power and wisdom hidden in the ocean’s depths. The Calico Scallop is closely associated with pilgrimage and spiritual journeys, recalling its connection to St. James and the Camino de Santiago. Finally, the Lightning Whelk, rare for its left-handed spiral, signifies uniqueness, awakening, and the ability to see the world from a different perspective.

GUMMED STAMP: This postage stamp has a traditional moisture-activated gum on the back. These stamps require licking or wetting to adhere to envelopes or other surfaces. To ensure good adhesion, apply vintage gummed stamps to your mailings with a glue stick (we recommend using Elmer's "Re-Stick" glue sticks).

QUESTIONS? We love hearing from our customers and replies to inquires are usually answered the same day. Need more of this stamp? Looking for a particular stamp not found on our website? Want a curated postage set for your special event?

ABOUT HERITAGE POST HOUSE: Jennifer Kramer is the founder of Heritage Post House, a boutique vintage postage house located in Northern California. Jennifer sources the most beautiful unused vintage postage stamps ever issued by USPS and artfully arranges them into curated postage sets that are sure to add a special touch to your invitations, announcements, and special mailings. In addition to creating pre-arranged postage sets, Jennifer also works with couples (and their stationers) to create one-of-a-kind custom postage arrangements for wedding invitations, save the dates, and other special occasions.


Product Specifications

Length: 1 in.
Height: 0.01 in.
Width: 0.87 in.
Weight: 0.01 lbs.