Reprinted from The FACE, 1995 Cynical New Yorkers unimpressed with wholesome images of the American flag on their letters now have an alternative - stamps with messages like "kill", "hate", or even a picture of the flag going in up flames. Created by a New York artist who calls herself F.I.R.E. (First Issue Reserved Edition ), other designs include disgraced ice skater Tonya Harding, a riot-torn LA with the words "LA: helluva town, and Jeff Koons' porcelain sculpture of Michael Jackson and Bubbles the chimp. Although the stamps are intended as "a political statement that I don't want my government or its agencies choosing my icons for me", letters bearing them are being delivered by a US postal system seemingly oblivious to the subversive threat. Anarchy-by-philately, anyone? lucie young, june 94 (back to article listings)