# 3189c - 1999 33c Celebrate the Century - 1970s: Sesame Street

US #3189c
1999 “Sesame Street” – Celebrate the Century (1970s)

• Part of the eighth sheet in the Celebrate the Century stamp series issued from 1998-2000
• Commemorates the debut of “Sesame Street”
• Includes text on the back with historical details

Stamp Category: Commemorative
Series: Celebrate the Century
Value: 33¢ First Class Mail Rate
First Day of Issue: November 18, 1999
First Day City: New York, New York
Quantity Issued: 90,000,000
Printed by: Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd.
Printing Method: Offset, Intaglio
Format: Panes of 15
Perforations: 11.5
Tagging: Block tagging

Why the stamp was issued: To recall the popularity of the new children’s TV series “Sesame Street.”

About the stamp design: Pictures a photograph of Big Bird from Children’s Television Workshop. Includes the following text on the back: “Created for public TV by Children’s Television Workshop, “Sesame Street” revolutionized children’s TV by combining entertainment and education. It helps children worldwide learn about letters, numbers, and getting along with others.”

First Day City: The First Day of Issue Ceremony was held at the Postage Stamp Mega-Event at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City.

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.

History the stamp represents: The first “Sesame Street” episode was broadcast in 1969. The show, which is still shown on public television, aims to entertain and educate preschool-aged children, especially the disadvantaged. The hour-long show was created by producer Joan Ganz Cooney.

The “Sesame Street” cast includes actors who portray neighborhood people, and puppeteer Jim Henson’s Muppets. Using the characters and short cartoon-like segments, “Sesame Street” attempts to develop primary skills in letters, numbers, phonics, and relationships. Over the years, the show has addressed marriage, parenthood, death, and other mature topics in a way understandable to kids age three to five.

Critics have said the program entertains more than it teaches, and its fast pace demands little concentration from watchers. In 1971, the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) banned “Sesame Street” because it alleged the show had “authoritarian aims.” The Kremlin called the program “Veiled neocolonialism” and outlawed its broadcast in the Soviet Union in 1973.

Today, “Sesame Street” is translated into foreign languages and broadcast in over 80 countries. Stars like Garth Brooks, Smokey Robinson, and the Red Hot Chili Peppers have appeared on “Sesame Street.”