# 3191b - 2000 33c Celebrate the Century - 1990s: Gulf War
US #3191b
2000 Gulf War – Celebrate the Century (1990s)
• Part of the tenth and final sheet in the Celebrate the Century stamp series issued from 1998-2000
• Commemorates the Gulf War
• 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: May 2, 2000
First Day City: Escondido, California
Quantity Issued: 82,500,000
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 honor the heroism of those who fought in the Middle East during the Gulf War.
About the stamp design: Pictures artwork by Drew Struzan of a soldier with flames and smoke behind him and helicopters in the distance. Includes the following text on the back: “On August 2, 1990, Iraq invaded and occupied Kuwait. After negotiations failed, Operation Desert Storm was launched on January 17, 1991. Multi-national forces led by the US liberated Kuwait within six weeks.”
First Day City: The First Day of Issue Ceremony was held at the Village Amphitheater of San Diego Wild Animal Park in Escondido, California.
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 Persian Gulf War was the first major international encounter since the end of the Cold War. It tested the cooperation between the United States and the Soviet Union. The war was fought between Iraq and a coalition of 39 countries, organized mainly by the United States and the United Nations. The war too place in Iraq and the tiny, oil-rich nation of Kuwait.
Tensions began when Iraq invaded Kuwait on August 2, 1990. Iraq quickly gained control of Kuwait and moved troops to the border with Saudi Arabia. Leaders believed Iraq was prepared to invade Saudi Arabia next, and that the world’s supply of petroleum was in jeopardy.
The coalition placed embargoes on Iraq, but they refused to retreat. On January 17, 1991, the bombing of Iraqi military and industrial targets began. A massive ground attack was launched in February, and the Iraqis were quickly defeated and driven out of Kuwait.
Immense human suffering in the Middle East occurred as a result of the Gulf War. Environmental damage occurred when the Iraqis set hundreds of Kuwaiti oil wells on fire and dumped huge amounts of oil into the Persian Gulf. Baghdad was hit by some of the most devastating air raids in history, knocking out communication and public works systems.
US #3191b
2000 Gulf War – Celebrate the Century (1990s)
• Part of the tenth and final sheet in the Celebrate the Century stamp series issued from 1998-2000
• Commemorates the Gulf War
• 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: May 2, 2000
First Day City: Escondido, California
Quantity Issued: 82,500,000
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 honor the heroism of those who fought in the Middle East during the Gulf War.
About the stamp design: Pictures artwork by Drew Struzan of a soldier with flames and smoke behind him and helicopters in the distance. Includes the following text on the back: “On August 2, 1990, Iraq invaded and occupied Kuwait. After negotiations failed, Operation Desert Storm was launched on January 17, 1991. Multi-national forces led by the US liberated Kuwait within six weeks.”
First Day City: The First Day of Issue Ceremony was held at the Village Amphitheater of San Diego Wild Animal Park in Escondido, California.
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 Persian Gulf War was the first major international encounter since the end of the Cold War. It tested the cooperation between the United States and the Soviet Union. The war was fought between Iraq and a coalition of 39 countries, organized mainly by the United States and the United Nations. The war too place in Iraq and the tiny, oil-rich nation of Kuwait.
Tensions began when Iraq invaded Kuwait on August 2, 1990. Iraq quickly gained control of Kuwait and moved troops to the border with Saudi Arabia. Leaders believed Iraq was prepared to invade Saudi Arabia next, and that the world’s supply of petroleum was in jeopardy.
The coalition placed embargoes on Iraq, but they refused to retreat. On January 17, 1991, the bombing of Iraqi military and industrial targets began. A massive ground attack was launched in February, and the Iraqis were quickly defeated and driven out of Kuwait.
Immense human suffering in the Middle East occurred as a result of the Gulf War. Environmental damage occurred when the Iraqis set hundreds of Kuwaiti oil wells on fire and dumped huge amounts of oil into the Persian Gulf. Baghdad was hit by some of the most devastating air raids in history, knocking out communication and public works systems.