1995 32c Comic Strip Classics: Flash Gordon
# 3000p FDC - 1995 32c Comic Strip Classics: Flash Gordon
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3000p FDC - 1995 32c Comic Strip Classics: Flash Gordon
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Classic First Day Cover
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Fleetwood First Day Cover
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Mystic First Day Cover
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U.S. #3000p
1995 32¢ Flash Gordon
Comic Strip Classics
- Third sheet in the Classic Collection Series
Stamp Category: Commemorative
Set: Comic Strip Classics
Value: 32¢, rate for first-class mail
First Day of Issue: October 1, 1995
First Day Cities: Boca Raton, Florida
Quantity Issued: 300,000,000
Printed by: Stamp Venturers
Printing Method: Photogravure
Format: Panes of 20 in sheets of 120
Perforations: 10.1 x 10.2
Why the stamps were issued: The Comic Strip Classics sheet was the third issue in the Classic Collection Series. There was push to create a stamp to honor American comics as early as the 1960’s, but didn’t get real consideration until 1993. With the 100th anniversary of the comic The Yellow Kid, a comic committee, and an 83-page proposal the USPS finally agreed.
About the stamp designs: Even though only one stamp was approved, Terrence McCaffrey, head of stamp design, thought there was no way to honor American Comics with one single stamp. Therefore, he had a list of all proposed stamps and had Carl Herrman, art director, mock up a sheet of 20 stamps. McCaffrey wanted all the stamps to be taken from original panels by their respected artist. Herrmann worked on going through thousands of panels to find comics of the 20 chosen that showed the central theme of the comic in one panel with clean lines. Then with the help of American Color, that colorizes most of the comics in American newspapers, he was able to colorize them with accurate color choices, even those that were outdated.
Flash Gordon (#3000p) – This is the only stamp that has someone other than the main character front and center. Instead, Flash Gordon appears more in the background on a round screen. An original was decided upon instead of one that had to be redrawn.
About the printing process: In order to include the text on the back of each stamp, it had to be printed under the gum, so that it would still be visible if a stamp was soaked off an envelope. Because people would need to lick the stamps, the ink had to be approved by the Food and Drug Administration as non-toxic. The printer also used an extra-fine 300-line screen, which resulted in some of the highest-quality gravure stamp printings in recent years.
History the stamps represent:
Flash Gordon
As travel by car, boat, and plane became more practical during the 1920’s, Americans dreamed of adventure in far-off places – even space travel seemed possible. To make adventure strips realistic and believable, publishers turned to talented illustrators who could draw handsome men, beautiful women, lush landscapes, and convincing fight scenes.
In 1934, when King Features decided to launch a rival to the popular Buck Rogers, it called on the multitalented Alex Raymond. His memorable villains, exotic locales, and breathless action made Flash Gordon a science-fiction classic.
As a young man growing up in New Rochelle, New York – home to Norman Rockwell and other well-known illustrators – Raymond aspired to be an artist. He assisted on several other strips, including Blondie, before his style turned realistic. One of the best draftsmen in the field of newspaper comics, Raymond also created Secret Agent X-9 and Jungle Jim, both of which were drawn simultaneously with Flash Gordon. During World War II, when Raymond served in the Marine Corps, the strip was taken over by others. After the war, he began the popular detective strip Rip Kirby, which he continued until his death in 1956.
U.S. #3000p
1995 32¢ Flash Gordon
Comic Strip Classics
- Third sheet in the Classic Collection Series
Stamp Category: Commemorative
Set: Comic Strip Classics
Value: 32¢, rate for first-class mail
First Day of Issue: October 1, 1995
First Day Cities: Boca Raton, Florida
Quantity Issued: 300,000,000
Printed by: Stamp Venturers
Printing Method: Photogravure
Format: Panes of 20 in sheets of 120
Perforations: 10.1 x 10.2
Why the stamps were issued: The Comic Strip Classics sheet was the third issue in the Classic Collection Series. There was push to create a stamp to honor American comics as early as the 1960’s, but didn’t get real consideration until 1993. With the 100th anniversary of the comic The Yellow Kid, a comic committee, and an 83-page proposal the USPS finally agreed.
About the stamp designs: Even though only one stamp was approved, Terrence McCaffrey, head of stamp design, thought there was no way to honor American Comics with one single stamp. Therefore, he had a list of all proposed stamps and had Carl Herrman, art director, mock up a sheet of 20 stamps. McCaffrey wanted all the stamps to be taken from original panels by their respected artist. Herrmann worked on going through thousands of panels to find comics of the 20 chosen that showed the central theme of the comic in one panel with clean lines. Then with the help of American Color, that colorizes most of the comics in American newspapers, he was able to colorize them with accurate color choices, even those that were outdated.
Flash Gordon (#3000p) – This is the only stamp that has someone other than the main character front and center. Instead, Flash Gordon appears more in the background on a round screen. An original was decided upon instead of one that had to be redrawn.
About the printing process: In order to include the text on the back of each stamp, it had to be printed under the gum, so that it would still be visible if a stamp was soaked off an envelope. Because people would need to lick the stamps, the ink had to be approved by the Food and Drug Administration as non-toxic. The printer also used an extra-fine 300-line screen, which resulted in some of the highest-quality gravure stamp printings in recent years.
History the stamps represent:
Flash Gordon
As travel by car, boat, and plane became more practical during the 1920’s, Americans dreamed of adventure in far-off places – even space travel seemed possible. To make adventure strips realistic and believable, publishers turned to talented illustrators who could draw handsome men, beautiful women, lush landscapes, and convincing fight scenes.
In 1934, when King Features decided to launch a rival to the popular Buck Rogers, it called on the multitalented Alex Raymond. His memorable villains, exotic locales, and breathless action made Flash Gordon a science-fiction classic.
As a young man growing up in New Rochelle, New York – home to Norman Rockwell and other well-known illustrators – Raymond aspired to be an artist. He assisted on several other strips, including Blondie, before his style turned realistic. One of the best draftsmen in the field of newspaper comics, Raymond also created Secret Agent X-9 and Jungle Jim, both of which were drawn simultaneously with Flash Gordon. During World War II, when Raymond served in the Marine Corps, the strip was taken over by others. After the war, he began the popular detective strip Rip Kirby, which he continued until his death in 1956.