1993 29c Grace Kelly

US #2749

1993 29¢ Grace Kelly

• Honors American Actress and Monaco Princess Grace Kelly
• Joint Issue with Monaco

Stamp Category: Commemorative

Value: 29¢

First Day of Issue: March 24, 1993

First Day City(s): Beverly Hills, California

Quantity Issued: 172,870,000

Printed by: Stamp ...  more

US #2749

1993 29¢ Grace Kelly

• Honors American Actress and Monaco Princess Grace Kelly
• Joint Issue with Monaco

Stamp Category: Commemorative

Value: 29¢

First Day of Issue: March 24, 1993

First Day City(s): Beverly Hills, California

Quantity Issued: 172,870,000

Printed by: Stamp Venturers

Printing Method: Intaglio

Format: Panes of 50

Perforations: 11

Color: Blue

Why the stamp was issued: Grace Kelly had died in an automobile accident in 1982. Because of US Postal Service policy, a person had to be dead for at least 10 years before a stamp would be issued in his or her honor. As the 10-year mark drew near, USPS began negotiating with the country of Monaco, hoping to release a joint issue. 

About the stamp design: A photo of Kelly taken during the making of the movie Rear Window was the basis for this stamp. Polish-born stamp engraver Czeslaw Slania engraved both the US and Monaco stamps. Blue was chosen as the color for the stamp because it was Princess Grace's favorite color.

First Day City: The Academy of Motion Pictures, Arts, and Sciences in Beverly Hills, California, was the site of the First Day of Issue ceremony. Karl Malden, a member of the Academy board, as well as the Citizen's Stamp Advisory Committee's board, was in attendance.

Unusual fact about this stamp: The Grace Kelly stamps were used before the March 24th issue date. The stamp has been found with postmarks as early as February 2.