U.S. # 4763
2013 46¢ Primrose
Vintage Seed Packets

In spite of their delicate beauty, primrose flowers are among the easiest to grow. The plants can just be set out in shady spots in most areas or under the shelter of larger plants without any further care needed. Primroses then reward this small investment of time with a showy performance of brilliantly colored...  more

U.S. # 4763
2013 46¢ Primrose
Vintage Seed Packets

In spite of their delicate beauty, primrose flowers are among the easiest to grow. The plants can just be set out in shady spots in most areas or under the shelter of larger plants without any further care needed. Primroses then reward this small investment of time with a showy performance of brilliantly colored flowers. The entire plant is also a sedative that was once used as a remedy for rheumatism, paralysis, and gout. According to legend, eating a primrose allows you to see fairies, while touching a fairy rock with a primrose flower opens the way to a fairyland full of gifts. But be careful, as using the wrong number of flowers is also said to spell doom.

Vintage seed packets have grown in popularity over the years.  Some people collect them – searching for packets in mint condition, from specific companies or with certain types of illustrations.  Their fine artwork is also popular among decorators who frame them for a rustic look.  They’re even used by scientists and historians to study these plants’ evolution. 

U.S. Postal Service art director Antonio Alcala designed the Vintage Seed Packet stamps.  He based these designs on photographs from 1910s and 1920s seed packets.  The image for the primrose stamp was based on a seed packed produced for Everitt’s Seed Store in Indiana.

Value: 46¢ First-Class letter rate
Issued:  April 5, 2013
First Day City:  Oaks, PA – Philadelphia Stamp Exhibition
Type of Stamp: Definitive
Printed by: Avery Dennison
Method: Photogravure printing in double-sided panes of 20 (convertible booklet format)
Perforation: Die Cut 10 ¾
Self-Adhesive
Quantity Printed: 40,000,000 stamps

Though not an established series, flowers have long been a popular subject for U.S. stamps.  One of the earliest issues to feature a flower as a prominent design subject was U.S. #977, honoring Moina Michael, the founder of Poppy Day.