# 3182 - 1998 32c Celebrate the Century: 1900s

US #3182
1998 Celebrate the Century (1900s)

• The first sheet in the Celebrate the Century stamp series issued from 1998-2000
• Includes 15 stamps picturing important events from the 1900s
• Each stamp has text on the back detailing the event shown in the front design

Stamp Category: Commemorative
Series: Celebrate the Century
Value: 32¢ First Class Mail Rate
First Day of Issue: February 3, 1998
First Day City: Washington, DC
Quantity Issued: 188,000,000
Printed by: Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd.
Printing Method: Offset, Intaglio
Format: Panes of 15
Perforations: 11.6
Tagging: Bock Tagging

Why the stamps were issued: To commemorate important historical and cultural events from the 1900s that have a lasting legacy in the United States.

About the stamp designs: Pictures gouache and colored pencil illustrations by artist Richard Waldrep. The following topics were chosen for the 15 stamps on this sheet (and corresponding back markings of each):

Model T Ford – “The low-priced, 4-cylinder, 20-horsepower Model T Ford made the automobile more affordable for the average American. One of its nicknames was Tin Lizzie.”

Theodore Roosevelt – “The 26th president of the United States, Theodore Roosevelt promoted conservation, regulated business and earned the Nobel Peace Prize for mediating the end of the Russo-Japanese War.”

The Great Train Robbery – “‘The Great Train Robbery,’ directed by Edwin S. Porter in 1903, was one of the first commercially successful story films. This box-office hit became part of the Western genre.”

Crayola Crayons – “The first box of Crayola crayons was produced in 1903. It cost five cents and contained eight colors: black, brown, blue, red, violet, orange, yellow and green.”

St. Louis World’s Fair – “The Louisiana Purchase Exposition of 1904 was also known as the St. Louis World’s Fair. Americans were already enjoying ice cream, but the ice cream cone was popularized at the fair.”

Pure Food and Drug Act – “The Pure Food and Drug Act of 1906 prohibited the interstate sale of any adulterated or misbranded food or drug.”

Kitty Hawk – “On December 17, 1903, at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, the Wright brothers, Orville and Wilbur, achieved the first controlled, powered flight in an airplane.”

Ash Can Painters – “The painters of the Ash Can School portrayed the life and scenes around them. One of the most famous Ash Can paintings is Stag at Sharkey’s (detail) by George Bellows, at the Cleveland Museum of Art.”

Immigrants Arrive – “Ellis Island was the nation’s principal immigration station between 1892 and 1954. During the peak decade of 1900-1909, immigrants arrived on an average of 100 an hour.”

John Muir, Preservationist – “Often referred to as a father of national parks, John Muir was a naturalist who championed the wilderness and its preservation.”

“Teddy” Bear Created – “America’s ‘teddy’ bear was created in 1902. A cartoon depicting President Theodore ‘Teddy’ Roosevelt’s refusal to shoot a captured bear while hunting in Mississippi is said to have inspired its creation.

W.E.B. DuBois – “An educator and author, W.E.B. DuBois promoted the cause for equality for all Americans. He helped found the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).”

Gibson Girl – “Created by illustrator Charles Dana Gibson, the Gibson Girl set the fashion for the ideal American woman at the turn of the century.”

First World Series – “The championship games of 1903 are considered baseball’s first World Series. Boston of the American League beat Pittsburgh of the National League 5 games to 3 in a best-of-nine series.”

Robie House, Chicago – “Frank Lloyd Wright is considered one of the nation’s most innovative architects. The masterpiece of his early work, constructed in the Prairie House style, is the Robie House in Chicago.”

First Day City: The First Day of Issue Ceremony was held in Washington, DC, with legendary radio and television host Larry King as master of ceremonies.

About the Celebrate the Century series: The USPS launched the Celebrate the Century series in 1998 to mark the end of the 20th century and herald the arrival of the 21st. The series includes 10 sheets of 15 stamps (150 in total), with each honoring important moments from a different decade (1900s, 10s, 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s, and 90s). At the time of completion, it was the longest and most ambitious commemorative stamp series in US history.