U.S. #1890-96
1981 Flags, Collection of 7 Stamps
- Includes Flag and Anthem stamps and Flag Over Supreme Court Stamps
- Some of the first American flag stamps issued at the same time with different designs & formats
Stamp Category: Definitive
Set: Flags
Value: 6¢-20¢
First Day of Issue: Anthem: April 24, 1981; Supreme Court: December 17, 1981
First Day City: Anthem: Portland, Maine; Supreme Court: Washington, DC
Printed by: Bureau of Engraving & Printing
Printing Method: Engraved
Format: Panes of 100, Coils of 100, 500 and 3,000, Booklet Panes of 6 and 8
Why the stamps were issued: The Flag and Anthem stamps were the first flag stamps available in pane, coil, and booklet formats. They were issued for the new 18¢ first-class rate that went into effect March 22, 1981. Also issued in these three formats, the three Flag Over Supreme Court stamps were issued in December to pay the 20¢ first-class mail rate, which was instituted on November 1, 1981.
About the stamp designs: All of the Flag and Anthem stamps were designed by Peter Cocci of the Bureau of Engraving and Printing. Three of the stamps follow the same design format, with a large US flag filling the top half of the stamp. “USA” and the denomination are printed in red below that on the left-hand side. And below that is an image and line from “America the Beautiful.”
The sheet stamp, #1890, pictures a partially plowed field of wheat with farm machinery printed in umber. Below the image is the line “for amber waves of grain.”
The coil, #1891, depicts waves crashing on a beach, with a lighthouse and homes nearby. Reportedly, the coastline was inspired by that of Portland, Maine. The scene is accompanied by the line “from sea to shining sea.”
The 6¢ stamp, #1892, which accompanies the Flag and Mountain booklet stamp, was designed to resemble Revolutionary-era American flags, with 13-white stars surrounding the denomination, all on a blue field. This stamp paid half the postcard rate.
The flag booklet stamp, #1893, pictures purple mountain peaks, illustrating the line below it that reads, “for purple mountain majesties.” A portion of the Grand Teton mountains near Jackson Hole, Wyoming are said to have served as the design inspiration for this image. The booklets were designed for sale only in vending machines.
Dean Ellis created the design on the Flag Over Supreme Court stamps. It pictures the American flag waving over the court with the Contemplation of Justice statue in the foreground.
About the printing process: Go over the production process of the stamp, if known/interesting.
First Day City: The First Day Ceremony for the Flag and Anthem stamps was held in Portland, Maine. While it wasn’t identified as such on the stamp, Portland’s coastline served as the design inspiration for the “sea to shining sea” stamp.
The First Day ceremony for the Flag Over Supreme Court stamps was held in Washington, DC, where the Supreme Court is located.
About US Flag Stamps: The American flag first appeared as a smaller element of a US stamp on the 1869 Eagle and Shield Pictorial (US #121). A handful of stamps in the coming years included the flag in much the same way. Then, on July 4, 1957, the US Post Office issued its first stamp with the American flag as the central element (US #1094). It was also the first stamp printed by the Giori press, which allowed the design to be printed in its natural colors in one step.
Upon hearing the news, some collectors and citizens were outraged. Because the stamps would be canceled, they saw it as disrespectful. They flooded the post office with angry letters citing American legal code that prohibited the reproduction of “the national emblem for disloyal or commercial purposes.” Conversely, many people were also happy about the stamp, praising its beautiful colors and patriotic design. The Post Office stated the stamp was meant to be a reminder of America’s heritage and hard-won liberty.
The stamp proved popular and was followed by two more commemoratives featuring updated 49- and 50-star flags in 1959 and 1960, respectively. Then in 1963, the Post Office started a new tradition. Nearly every year since, there’s been at least one definitive picturing the US flag. For many years, it was the flag “over” something such as a national landmark. Over time, the USPS has grown creative to find new ways to celebrate the American flag every year with a different design.
History the stamp represents: On July 22, 1893, Katharine Lee Bates wrote America the Beautiful.
In 1893, 33-year-old college professor Katharine Lee Bates traveled to Colorado to teach a short summer English course. Along the way, she stopped at the World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago, where the alabaster “White City” moved her. And as she rode the train through America’s heartland, she was awestruck by the expansive wheat fields.
As Bates later recalled, “One day some of the other teachers and I decided to go on a trip to 14,000-foot Pikes Peak. We hired a prairie wagon. Near the top we had to leave the wagon and go the rest of the way on mules. I was very tired. But when I saw the view, I felt great joy. All the wonder of America seemed displayed there, with the sea-like expanse.”
When Bates approached Colorado Springs, she noticed how the granite of Pikes Peak gave the mountains a purple hue. As she stood on the summit of the mountain, a poem came to mind. She returned to her room at the Antlers Hotel and immediately wrote it down. She initially titled the poem, “Pikes Peak.”
Two years later, the poem appeared in the church periodical, The Congregationalist, for the Fourth of July. As the poem gained popularity, it was set to different pieces of music. Perhaps the most popular was Samuel A. Ward’s Materna. The poem and song were first combined in 1910 and titled, “America the Beautiful.”
Some have suggested “America the Beautiful” should be our country’s national anthem, but “The Star-Spangled Banner” continues to hold that place of honor. “America the Beautiful” describes the wonders of our vast and diverse nation and has been sung by world-renowned artists over the years.
The Supreme Court
The powers and responsibilities of the Supreme Court are established in the U.S. Constitution. It is the highest court in the judicial branch of the federal government. The Supreme Court is the only court established by the Constitution. It has narrow original jurisdiction that is largely limited to cases involving ambassadors, public ministers, and states. Following the landmark 1803 Marbury v. Madison decision, the majority of its caseload involves appeals.
Congress determines the number of justices that sit on the court. The number of justices began at six and grew as the nation expanded geographically. The President of the United States appoints justices, who are not required to have any specific qualifications. Each nominee must be confirmed by Congress.
To allow justices to make their decisions without political influence or fear of reprisal, each justice “shall hold their Offices during good Behavior,” and may only be removed from the bench by impeachment.
The Supreme Court had a limited function for its first few decades, and the justices often rode the circuit to hear cases. President John Adams appointed John Marshall to the Supreme Court in 1801. In 1803, the Supreme Court heard the case of Marbury v. Madison, which found that a Congressional Act was unconstitutional. The Marshall Court declared any act that was “repugnant” to the Constitution to be illegal. The finding firmly established the concept of “judicial review,” and made the Supreme Court an influential branch of the federal government.
Due to the power the court wields, Presidents are often eager to appoint justices that reflect their political ideology. To date, Jimmy Carter is the only President to serve a full term without the opportunity to appoint a member to the Supreme Court.
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