2016 First-Class Forever Stamp,Botanical Art: Corn Lilies

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US #5042
2016 Corn Lilies – Botanical Art

Celebrates botanical artwork in American nursery catalogs printed between 1891 and 1912

Stamp Category: Definitive
Set: Botanical Art
Value: 49¢ First Class Mail Rate (Forever)
First Day of Issue: January 29, 2016
First Day City: Atlanta, Georgia
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US #5042
2016 Corn Lilies – Botanical Art

Celebrates botanical artwork in American nursery catalogs printed between 1891 and 1912

Stamp Category: Definitive
Set: Botanical Art
Value: 49¢ First Class Mail Rate (Forever)
First Day of Issue: January 29, 2016
First Day City: Atlanta, Georgia
Quantity Issued: 60,000,000
Printed by: Ashton Potter
Printing Method: Offset
Format: Booklets of 10 OR Double-sided booklets of 20
Tagging: Nonphosphored type III, block tag applied

Why the stamp was issued: To continue the tradition of printing floral-themed US stamps.

About the stamp design: Pictures a corn lilies from an American nursery catalog printed between 1891 and 1912. The catalog was from The New York Botanical Garden’s Nursery and Seed Catalog Collection.

First Day City: The First Day of Issue Ceremony was held at the American Philatelic Society’s AmeriStamp/Southeastern Stamp Expo. at the Hilton Atlanta in Atlanta, Georgia.

About the Botanical Art set: 10 stamps all picturing different artwork from a 100+ year old American nursery catalog. Species pictured include: corn lilies, tulips, dahlias, stocks, roses, Japanese irises, petunias, and jonquils.

History the stamp represents: Botanical art has complemented gardening catalogs and magazines for over two centuries. In 1784, David Landreth established the first mail order seed catalog. His reputation grew and soon Landreth’s customers included George Washington and Thomas Jefferson.

Landreth introduced the zinnia to the United States in 1798, followed by the first truly white potato, and then the tomato. In 1832, he unveiled the nation’s first floral and horticultural magazine.

Following Landreth’s success, the 19th century saw an explosion of seed companies and catalogs. This growth was fed by Westward Expansion and pioneers who needed seeds to begin farming at their new destination.

The Industrial Age ushered in items of convenience, which brought many Americans prosperity and more leisure time. Elaborate flower gardens came in trend, and seed catalog covers were the best place to showcase new varieties. The W. Atlee Burpee company was especially skilled in promoting new and improved seed varieties each year. Beautifully executed cover art created desire for these new varieties, and sales soared. Other companies soon followed suit. Today, many seed companies avoid modern photography and continue using cover art.