# 5615 - 2021 First-Class Forever Stamps - Western Wear: Cowboy Hat
US #5615
2021 Cowboy Hat – Western Wear
- One of four stamps honoring Western apparel and its history in the United States
Stamp Category: Definitive
Set: Western Wear
Value: 55¢ First Class Mail Rate (Forever)
First Day of Issue: July 23, 2021
First Day City: Abilene, Texas
Quantity Issued: 175,000,000
Printed by: Unknown (USPS never released the name of the printer)
Printing Method: Offset
Format: Double-sided Booklets of 20
Tagging: Nonphosphored Type III, Block Tag
Why the stamp was issued: To celebrate the classic cowboy hat which has become synonymous with the American West.
About the stamp design: Includes an illustration of a cowboy hat. Original artwork by Ryan Feerer.
First Day City: The First Day of Issue postmark was from Abilene, Texas, but there was no First Day of Issue Ceremony held.
About the Western Wear set: Issued to celebrate clothing and accessories that have become symbolic of the American West. Includes four stamps picturing Western attire: a cowboy hat, boot with spur, shirt, and belt buckle. Each stamp also includes elements commonly associated with the American West such as cacti, snakes, roses, and stars. Original artwork by Ryan Feerer.
History the stamp represents: What is a cowboy without his iconic wide-brimmed hat? It protects his head and neck from the hot sun and cold rain, is good for encouraging a herd of cattle, and can even serve as a water bucket for his horse.
The most famous style of cowboy hat was created by John B. Stetson in 1865. Stetson designed the hat to suit the needs of cowboys and other westerners. The very first style was the “Boss of the Plains” hat, which was inspired by a journey to Pike’s Peak. These hats were kept their natural color, given four-inch crowns and brims, and a plain band. One man said of the hat “It kept the sun out of your eyes and off your neck. It was like an umbrella. It gave you a bucket (the crown) to water your horse and a cup (the brim) to water yourself. It made a hell of a fan, which you need sometimes for a fire but more often to shunt cows this direction or that.” The “Boss of the Plains” hat became the model for all future cowboy hat designs – from all companies.
Stetson’s “Boss of the Plains” soared in popularity and the John B. Stetson Company became a booming business. Stetson’s hats were known for their high quality and durability, and were worn by all. Other companies eventually produced similar hats, but, to this day, Stetson is widely considered one of the best.
US #5615
2021 Cowboy Hat – Western Wear
- One of four stamps honoring Western apparel and its history in the United States
Stamp Category: Definitive
Set: Western Wear
Value: 55¢ First Class Mail Rate (Forever)
First Day of Issue: July 23, 2021
First Day City: Abilene, Texas
Quantity Issued: 175,000,000
Printed by: Unknown (USPS never released the name of the printer)
Printing Method: Offset
Format: Double-sided Booklets of 20
Tagging: Nonphosphored Type III, Block Tag
Why the stamp was issued: To celebrate the classic cowboy hat which has become synonymous with the American West.
About the stamp design: Includes an illustration of a cowboy hat. Original artwork by Ryan Feerer.
First Day City: The First Day of Issue postmark was from Abilene, Texas, but there was no First Day of Issue Ceremony held.
About the Western Wear set: Issued to celebrate clothing and accessories that have become symbolic of the American West. Includes four stamps picturing Western attire: a cowboy hat, boot with spur, shirt, and belt buckle. Each stamp also includes elements commonly associated with the American West such as cacti, snakes, roses, and stars. Original artwork by Ryan Feerer.
History the stamp represents: What is a cowboy without his iconic wide-brimmed hat? It protects his head and neck from the hot sun and cold rain, is good for encouraging a herd of cattle, and can even serve as a water bucket for his horse.
The most famous style of cowboy hat was created by John B. Stetson in 1865. Stetson designed the hat to suit the needs of cowboys and other westerners. The very first style was the “Boss of the Plains” hat, which was inspired by a journey to Pike’s Peak. These hats were kept their natural color, given four-inch crowns and brims, and a plain band. One man said of the hat “It kept the sun out of your eyes and off your neck. It was like an umbrella. It gave you a bucket (the crown) to water your horse and a cup (the brim) to water yourself. It made a hell of a fan, which you need sometimes for a fire but more often to shunt cows this direction or that.” The “Boss of the Plains” hat became the model for all future cowboy hat designs – from all companies.
Stetson’s “Boss of the Plains” soared in popularity and the John B. Stetson Company became a booming business. Stetson’s hats were known for their high quality and durability, and were worn by all. Other companies eventually produced similar hats, but, to this day, Stetson is widely considered one of the best.