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The Arky of Toast Postal Issues

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Post Options Post Options   Quote toast Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: The Arky of Toast Postal Issues
    Posted: 14 April 2010 at 09:01
This section will provide some insight into official Arky of Toast stamp production since its inception in 1992. The examples are drawn from records of my own personal correspondence and archives from the Philatelic Deck at the Toast Embassy in Seattle. This will not be a comprehensive review, as many of the issues were sold out almost immediately and no existing record remains within my direct purview.

Some examples have already been provided in the introduction to myself but may be given additional coverage here.

Examples of many of the early issues are the most difficult to obtain, but a few single stamps and some rare sheets remain. I will provide examples of them first and gradually work towards the latter years of production.

I estimate that perhaps half of all Toast issues are currently compiled for illustration. Collectors are hereby invited to scan and submit examples from their archives in an effort to provide a more inclusive overview.

At initial point of employment, I was given a meager budget in an attempt to start design and production. I was also under a great deal of pressure to start printing immediately. As such, digital tools were selected as the primary process.

Although eighteen years is not an exceedingly long length of time, I must remind those who are new to stamp production, that quality at that point was rudimentary at best. The first printer that was employed had a resolution of 72 dots per inch. The dyes in the inkset were so transient, that one could almost watch them fade while sipping a cup of coffee... and adhering the stamps provided its own special set of problems. Those drawbacks have been mostly addressed and today's production toolset has much to say for image quality and permanence.

Disclaimer: Although some number of issues have been designed and printed on Toast by employees within the Toast Postal Service, only those issues for which I have played a direct part in producing will be introduced here. I do no have permission to document those other issues.

In addition to the selected retrospective provided here, new issues will be highlighted as they are released. Thank you
Greg Byrd
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Post Options Post Options   Quote toast Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 14 April 2010 at 09:04
Getting a Life

One of the first Toast issues was a propaganda stamp that was used to interpret and provide motivation for several of John N. Knoph's primary initiatives relating to Clan Knoph's emigration to Toast.

The demand for this issue prompted an increase in the production budget. It also provided a valuable conduit to communication with many other stamp producers with whom I relied upon for advice and expertise.
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Post Options Post Options   Quote toast Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 15 April 2010 at 21:44
Knoph "G" Issue

The "G" is a very early commemorative issue celebrating the inauguration of the Toast Postal Service and the appointment of John N. Knoph as first Postmaster General. This was another hastily produced issue designed to satisfy the growing demand for Toast postage.

Toast postage denominations were all flat rate for most of the first two years but the early issues were essentially "alphabet stamps" to help reduce confusion during the initial accounting period and to facilitate individual post office inventory ordering. Since production was in Seattle, Earth calendar years were designated for accounting simplicity.
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Post Options Post Options   Quote toast Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 17 April 2010 at 11:19
Ol' Smoke

Every group has its incredible tales. Whether based in fact or purely fanciful, folklore serves a number of purposes, but mostly as a social glue or binder to facilitate certain customs that act to strengthen the group as a whole.

I questioned that intent when the subject of "Ol' Smoke" was broached. When Jack first requested that I create a few issues surrounding what I had considered to be a joke of sorts, I thought that perhaps he was extending the fun at my expense. Well apparently, he half believes these tales... to such a degree that he wasn't any too pleased with my reaction.

Of course, I asked for photographs, but that just really irritated him. So, after a bit more give and take, I agreed to produce an initial issue that featured a likeness drawn from his description. The process took awhile, but Jack in his new role as Postmaster eventually approved the results, although it was evident that he wasn't totally satisfied. A few days later he provided additional supporting "documentation".

The second issue was quickly ordered as a result of the astounding popularity of the first. Ol' Smoke's Lair was chosen as a topic, primarily resulting from the constant barrage of reports by those claiming to know where he lived. The stamp depicts, with artist license, the Smoken Toast Mountains as the primary focal point for most accounts of alleged sightings. This issue is also the first to depict Cynnamon, the only other planet in the system, which is often the bane to those in whose path she lies.

The lair has stirred many of Clan Knoph's young artists to render their visions of where Ol' Smoke resides. Most of the time, I believe the tales to be the result of mass delusion, but I suppose it's harmless enough to extend the nonsense.
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Post Options Post Options   Quote toast Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 20 April 2010 at 11:19
'Possum Flip

One of the "nicer" ways Clan Knoph members suggest to each other that their potato has been in the oven for tooo long is the question: "You don't know which end is up... do you?" The answer has always been: "Depends upon which way the 'possum is hanging."

Before very strict regulations on species import were instituted, one of the Knophs reportedly smuggled a few young opossums through transport... and raised them ostensibly as pets. Well, anyone who knows anything about the behavior of the animal will be quick to point out that they multiply like Welsh rarebits and are difficult to keep caged. And so the saga begins...

The story starts with one too many pints and ends with a small number of Knophs on a bender insisting that as long as they knew which way the 'possums were hanging, they could stand for one more round. It was one of those moments when silly spreads like wildfire throughout the land.

This issue was created to commemorate an early event in 'Possum Flip lore. Reportedly, Skimfat N. Knoph, camp cook at Conclusion, was frying up breakfast early one morning when nearly 20 giant homing frogs nosily descended upon the camp. Recently arrived baby opossums, hanging in the nearby tree, were scared gripless at the commotion. Bleary-eyed, Jerkbeef N. Knoph stumbled out of his tent to find Skim, spatula in hand, up to his ass in opossums and frogs.

"Don't just stand there!", Skimfat thundered. "Get those young-uns back up in the trees!"

The 'Possum Flip Festival has been a yearly Arky of Toast celebration ever since. Excitement builds for months beforehand and whenever one of the Knophs tends to think that living on Toast is just too much, the refrain "Get a Grip, 'Possum Flip" always acts as a reminder that tribulations eventually lead to a rousing celebration of some sort.

The issue is also in recognition of the efforts for all those in the Toast Postal Service who play an essential part in delivery of the baby opossums and a reminder of the effort required to insure that each local festival has at least one opossum for their celebration. Shipment rules are strict and timing is always an essential requisite. TPS prides itself on their on-time opossum delivery record.

Edited by toast - 21 April 2010 at 11:04
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Post Options Post Options   Quote toast Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 21 April 2010 at 10:58
Once Bitten, Twice Warned

Oversand issue warning delivery personnel to one of the dangers encounted along the desert routes.

This issue was almost immediately sold out. Postmaster Knoph's policy of destroying all traces of original printing files upon completion of original sales quotas, irritated many of those on Toast who wanted additional stamps for their mail, as well as a number of those who were not able to complete their growing collections.

No TPS response to the complaints at that the time of the depletion of this stamp issue was forthcoming. I was told off the record that the intent was to stimulate creativity, however, I still have my doubts to the the veracity of this claim.

The skull of the snake depicted in this stamp was taken as a metaphor by those same frustrated collectors as to how life sometimes bites.

The snake eratication program continues to date with some limited success.
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Post Options Post Options   Quote Bas S Warwick Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 12 May 2017 at 22:36
Has anyone heard from 'Toast' lately?
Its been a few years since I received anything from Seattle - wondering if he is still around
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Post Options Post Options   Quote Steve Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 25 May 2017 at 07:56
He went into 'poltics'.
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Post Options Post Options   Quote Colin Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 25 May 2017 at 14:15
He was a regular here, and on the Forum that preceded this.  I haven't spotted him on any of the other boards so perhaps he has moved on...
My Etsy shop - FarFetchedPhilately - new 'stuff' coming soon...




https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/FarFetchedPhilately

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Post Options Post Options   Quote Bas S Warwick Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 01 June 2017 at 23:02
I'm going to send him some Takangarika Island stamps - lets see if he replies......
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