US #3119
1996 Cycling
- Celebrates the sport of Cycling
- Last Commemoratives of 1996
- Not sold at most Post Offices
Stamp Category: Commemorative
Value: 50¢, International Post Card Rate
First Day of Issue: November 1, 1996
First Day City: New York, New York, and Hong Kong
Quantity... more
US #3119
1996 Cycling
- Celebrates the sport of Cycling
- Last Commemoratives of 1996
- Not sold at most Post Offices
Stamp Category: Commemorative
Value: 50¢, International Post Card Rate
First Day of Issue: November 1, 1996
First Day City: New York, New York, and Hong Kong
Quantity Issued: 40,000,000 stamps (20,000,000 sheets)
Printed by: J.W. Fergusson and Sons for Stamp Venturers
Printing Method: Photogravure
Format: Panes of 2 from printing cylinders of 18 panes (36 stamps)
Perforations: 11 x 11.1
Why the stamp was issued: This pane of 2 stamps was issued to honor the sport of cycling. It covered the rate for an international post card. The sale of the souvenir sheets helped cover the $1 million sponsorship of the USPS Pro Cycling Team. The stamps were not sold at most post offices. Collectors had to place an order with the Philatelic Fulfillment Service Center.
About the stamp design: The Cycling stamps were designed by illustrator McRay Magleby, who enjoyed cycling as a hobby. Using photos of the USPS cycling team as inspiration, Magleby penciled the outline of the design before scanning the image into his computer. He then added color to the design on the computer. Magleby also created the artwork for the selvage, which pictures three team members riding together.
First Day City: There were two First Day ceremonies for this stamp sheet. One took place on the second day of the American Stamp Dealers Association Postage Stamp Mega-Event held in New York City.
The other ceremony was in Hong Kong at the start of the Tour of China 96 race.
Unusual fact about this stamp: One of the stamp images was reproduced on the back of the USPS Pro Cycling Team jerseys.
History the stamp represents: The US Postal Service sponsored America’s pro cycling team from 1966 to 2004. The team was nicknamed the “Blue Train.” One of its most successful riders was Lance Armstrong, who won the Tours de France six times (but was later stripped of his titles) during that time.
Cycling is a popular sport around the world and is view by over 60 million people each year. The best known race is the grueling Tour de France.
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