Empress Jingu, the first person to have her image appear on a Japanese postage stamp was also the first to have that image changed by an earthquake. It was the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923, which according to different reports lasted anywhere from four to ten minutes. Widespread destruction, including Tokyo and Yokohama helped to bring the death toll to approximately 100,000 as a result of the 7.9 magnitude quake.
That earthquake caused damage to the printing plates for the stamp. After the damage the design was re-drawn and new plates were made.
Of course stamps aren't the first thing one thinks of in the midst of devastation such as that which just occurred in Japan. For those who desire to help, the About.com Nonprofit Charitable Orgs site has the information you need to do just that. (Stamp image - Wikimedia Commons)
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