Black River Stamp Club show celebrates Marilyn Monroe

Charlie Delgado has long been a fan of Marilyn Monroe, whose short career as an actor, fashion model and sex symbol garnered headlines during the post-World War II years. For more than 30 years Delgado of Elyria has collected stamps, covers, post cards, fan mail, photos and memorabilia related to the pop culture icon who starred on the silver screen as "blond bombshell" characters. His Monroe specialty is an extension of his joy of stamp collecting, which began in the early 1970s. Delgado will exhibit part of his extensive collection of Monroe philatelic material during the Black River Stamp Club's upcoming show on Nov. 21 at a new location: American Legion Post 12, 393 Ohio St., Elyria. Show hours are noon to 6 p.m. The show's theme revolves around the centennial of Monroe's birth on June 1, 1926, in Los Angeles. It was Delgado who came up with the idea that the club honor Monroe, who was born Norma Jeane Mortensen and lived in foster homes and an orphanage before her first marriage at age 16. Monroe's modeling career began after a photographer with the First Motion Picture Unit of the Army Air Forces met her at a factory during World War II. She quickly became featured on pin-up posters that proved popular among soldiers around the world. The modeling led to a film career, which spanned the 1950s and early 1960s. Despite her fame, Monroe suffered from severe depression. In 1962, Monroe died from a drug overdose at age of 36. Delgado's exhibit will include a focus on the U.S. stamp issued in Universal City, California, on June 1, 1995, as part of the postal service's Legends of Hollywood series. The stamp was designed by Michael Deas and features a 1950s photograph of Monroe. Other stamps and covers to be featured included those from Burkina Faso, St. Vincent, Marshall Islands and St. Thome and Principe. Delgado credits his son for kickstarting his interest in Monroe in 1995 with a Christmas gift of collectible cards featuring the actor. "These cards led me to look into more information about her life," Delgado said. "We know she helped different people in the world, performed shows for the military, helped orphanages, did charity work. People don't know that." Delgado regularly scours dealer holdings at area shows for Monroe-themed material. Much of the time, a new find is hidden deep within boxes of covers that sell for as little as $1 each. In addition to Delgado's exhibit, the Black River Stamp Club's show will feature nine dealers offering stamp collections, quality stamps, postal history, post cards and ephemera. An area for new collectors of all ages will offer stamps and covers at no cost. A Postcrossing meetup among people who enjoy sending post cards to others around the world and receiving cards in return is scheduled for the afternoon. For more information about the show email the club at blackriver.stampclub@gmail.com. December club meeting After the show, feel free to join BRSC members at their next monthly meeting on Dec. 9 beginning at 5 p.m. The club will review the show, vote for officers for 2027 and hold its regular auction of stamps, covers and other materials. The meeting is set for the Avon branch of the Lorain Public Library, 37485 Harvest Dr. Anyone with an interested in stamp collecting or postal history is welcome. - - - Sadowski can be reached at sadowski.dennis@gmail.com. MARILYN MONROE STAMP Credit: COURTESY SMITHSONIAN NATIONAL POSTAL MUSEUM The U.S. Postal Service issued a stamp in 1995 honoring Marilyn Monroe as part of its Legends of Hollywood series.