Each frame uses authentic US Postal stamps surrounded by a brief write-up and printed art, which embrace the subject or occupation.

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Unique Framed Gifts uses real United States Postal Service stamps surrounded by printed words that embrace the subject and enhance the work while surrounded by a dark blue top mat and a hint of burgundy for the bottom mat. The mahogany colored polystyrene frame comes ready to hang for all to view in an office, den, school or nearly anywhere. A truly unique and perfect gift created for the person, company or organization passionate about the story they closely relate to, while appreciating quality work by dedicated American art framers. Each stamp is pulled by hand and mounted onto the print with a spray glue mount, since most stamps are canceled no two stamps are exactly the same and the product you receive may vary slightly from the product image.

A Glimpse Of The Past Through The Ski Collection - Part of the legend of skiing is that it only snows at night, and the sun shines everyday. The fact is that the western United States region has more sunny winter days than other areas. Skiing, believe it or not, has been around for 5,000 years. Ski Bums have an historical beginning! The word Ski is Norwegian for snowshoe used in the old world, but the English word snowshoe has never been popular in reference to skiing. Skis dating to 2,500 b.c. have been found in the Altai Mts. of Siberia, and bear a incredible resemblance to those used today. Some were pointed at both ends, but had the shovel and tip and even the thong binding is plainly shown on a Runic stone 3,000 years old. They are preserved today in museums in the Scandinavian countries. Skiing was actually such an important part of Viking life that a god and goddess of skiing, Uller and Skada, were objects of worship. During the Norwegian civil war (A.D. 1200's) the king sent 2 skiing scouts, called “Birchlegs” because they wrapped their legs with birch to protect against the cold, to carry his royal infant son Haakon Haakonson over the mountains in the middle of winter. This is commemorated today with the Birkebeinerrennett (Birchleg Race), a 35 mile cross-country marathon ski race following the same course taken by the king’s scouts 750 years ago. The Swedish counterpart, the Vasaloppet, is a 53 mile annual race with 10,000 participants. In the 1500’s the Swedes equipped all their troops with either ski or snowshoes, and stretching animal skins between 2 skis, used the world's first known stretchers. In the 1800’s the most common type used in Norway and Sweden was the Osterdal, which had a long ski to provide glide and a short ski, covered with fur on the bottom, to provide kick. By the late 1830's, skiing had became a sport (in Norway of course), developing the Telemark and (Christie) Christiania turns, with jumping becoming popular, and crutch makers busy. Gold was discovered in Eastern Australia in 1851, and Norwegians sailed down to dig, also forming the Kiandra Ski Club, the oldest in existence. At the same time in California the Norwegian gold diggers were bringing early skiing to the western United States. The 1st Winter Games in 1924 in Chamonix, France was a modest affair with Cross-country, jumping, skating, hockey and military ski racing (the forerunner of Biathlon). 11 year old Sonja Heine skated her way into international fame. The 1932 Winter Games in Lake Placid, NY really got skiing going in the US. (New York Gov. F.D. Roosevelt opened the games.) The real winner of the Lake Placid games was the United States because of the enormous wave of enthusiasm for downhill skiing created there. In 1932 the 1st tow rope in North America appeared at Foster’s Hill at Shaw Bridge, Canada, using an old Dodge chassis, a series of pulleys and wheels, a rope spliced end to end. The first US version at Woodstock in 1934 used a Model T Ford. Snow trains were the big thing bringing more and more skiers as the number of runs increased due to the fast turn around of the tow ropes. 1936 saw the J-Bar developed in Wisconsin, and some non-skiing engineers from the Union Pacific Railroad were developing the world's first chair lift in a place soon to be known as Sun Valley, Idaho. 12,000 members of The Tenth Mountain Division served with distinction in Italy in 1945. They were all volunteers, sportsmen, experienced skiers, and military. Once these basics, good equipment, transportation, chair lifts, developed snow hills, and a public hungry for the sheer joy and terror of skiing were in place, the sport literally exploded. Improving at an astounding pace were ski construction techniques and material, light weight, warm, and trendy clothing, actual skiing techniques, teaching facilities, and new ski resorts. “Ski Bum” had become an acceptable, popular, and even proud term, with an exciting history. Ski Bum!