2014 First-Class Forever Stamp,Winter Flowers: Amaryllis

U.S. #4862

2014 49¢ Amaryllis

Winter Flowers

This stamp is part of a set of four winter flowers. Each stamp shows a close-up of the plant in full-blown.

After years of confusion and debate, 19th-century botanists determined the genus Amaryllis included two species. The species native to South Africa was given the name amaryllis. The other, from South America, was named Hippeastrum. Apparently undeterred by the work of those prominent scientists, the American public has insisted on ignoring the first species and calling the Hippeastrum “amaryllis” throughout history. 

A cousin of the daffodil, the misnamed amaryllis is a popular winter flower in the United States. Grown from a flowering bulb, it is easy to maintain and thrilling to see any of the many varieties bloom indoors in the heart of winter. 

Stamp artist William Low photographed potted plants at the peak of their blooming as the models for these stamps. He then created digital paintings of the flowers.

Value: 49¢ First-class rate

Issued: February 14, 2014
City: Little Rock, AR, at the American Philatelic Society AmeriStamp Expo 2014
Type of Stamp: Definitive
Printed By: Banknote Corporation of America for Sennett Security Products
Printing Method: Lithographed printed in sheets of 160 with 8 panes of 20 per sheet
Perforations: Serpentine Die Cut 11
Self-Adhesive

Quantity: 125,000,000