U.S. #2006-09
1982 20¢ Knoxville World's Fair

• Issued two days before the opening of the 1982 Knoxville World’s Fair
• Commemorates the first-ever world’s fair in the Southeast US, and the first world’s fair since 1975
• Stamps feature graphic representations of four types of energy

Stamp Category:  Commemorative
Value:  20¢, ...  more

U.S. #2006-09
1982 20¢ Knoxville World's Fair

• Issued two days before the opening of the 1982 Knoxville World’s Fair
• Commemorates the first-ever world’s fair in the Southeast US, and the first world’s fair since 1975
• Stamps feature graphic representations of four types of energy

Stamp Category:  Commemorative
Value:  20¢, first-class rate
First Day of Issue:  April 29, 1982
First Day City:  Knoxville, Tennessee
Quantity Issued:  31,160,000 blocks
Printed by:  Bureau of Engraving and Printing
Printing Method:  Photogravure
Format:  Panes of 50 in sheet of 200
Perforations:  11

Why the stamps were issued:  To promote and mark the opening of the 1982 Knoxville World’s Fair and its “Energy” theme.

About the stamp designs:  The Knoxville World’s Fair stamps were the first to be designed by Charles Harper, who usually specialized in wildlife paintings.  Harper created acrylic paintings of graphic style depictions of each of the four types of energy.

The Solar Energy stamp features a large yellow, orange and red sun on a dark background. 

The Synthetic Fuels stamp pictures test tubes with rubber stoppers connected by glass tubing.  Overlaid on top of these are chains of black circles, meant to represent chemical structures and reactions. 

The Breeder Reactor stamp show the cells found at the center of a nuclear breeder reactor.  At the time, there were concerns over nuclear weapons and nuclear plants, so the decision was made to refrain from using the word “nuclear” on the stamp, instead opting for “Breeder Reactor.”

The Fossil Fuels stamp shows an underground view of oil with some of the items that break down to become fossil fuels.

First Day City:  The First Day ceremony for the Knoxville World’s Fair stamps was held at the US Pavilion of the fairgrounds in Knoxville, Tennessee.

History the stamps represent:  The 1982 World’s Fair was held in Knoxville, Tennessee. More than 11 million visitors passed through its gates, which made it one of the most popular world’s fairs in US history.

The theme of the fair was “Energy Turns the World.” In his presidential proclamation, President Jimmy Carter invited the nations of the world to “think anew of man’s relationship with the pervasive force of energy which fundamentally shapes the choices people have as to the endurance and enjoyment of life itself.” Exhibitors were urged to explore new technologies to conserve energy, to harness long-lasting and renewable sources, and to carry on the search for new sources of energy.