"The Role of Stamps in U.S. Foreign Relations" explores the use of postage stamps in U.S. intelligence and foreign policy, particularly during the Cold War. The presentation discusses how the CIA, State Department, and White House assisted in the design and promotion of U.S. stamps, as well as how U.S. analysts and diplomats used stamps to gather information on the hidden intentions and policies of Soviet-allied countries.

Matin Modarressi inherited the joy of stamp collecting from his grandparents in Iran. Ever since, his favorite hobby has been collecting stamps and studying their designs to learn about the history and culture of where they were issued. He has also written about the politics of stamp design. His research has been published by Harvard’s Journal of Cold War Studies and the Wilson Center think tank. 

More talks on this subject can be found in the APS collection of Stamp Chats. These include Professor James Greyson's Stamp Chat on stamps in North and South Korea as well as Dr. Richard Morel's Stamp Chat, "From Concept to Reality: Tanganyika 1961 Independence Issue".