US #2615
1992 Bobsledding

• Commemorates 1992 Winter Olympic Games
• Part of a Strip of Five

Category of Stamp:  Commemorative
Set:  Olympic Winter Games
Value:  29¢, First-Class Mail rate
First Day of Issue:  January 11, 1992
First Day City:  Orlando, Florida
Quantity Issued:  32,000,000
Printed by:...  more

US #2615
1992 Bobsledding

• Commemorates 1992 Winter Olympic Games
• Part of a Strip of Five

Category of Stamp:  Commemorative
Set:  Olympic Winter Games
Value:  29¢, First-Class Mail rate
First Day of Issue:  January 11, 1992
First Day City:  Orlando, Florida
Quantity Issued:  32,000,000
Printed by:  Stamp Venturers
Printing Method/Format:  Photogravure
Perforations:  11

Reason the stamp was issued:  The Bobsledding stamp is part of a set of five Olympic Winter Games issued to commemorate the 16th Winter Games held in Albertville, France.

About the stamp design:  The strip of stamps features stylized images of athletes in five Winter Olympic sports, including this one picturing two bobsledders.  Lon Busch, an airbrush painter, created the paintings used for the stamp designs.  The action and athleticism of each Olympian is portrayed through their body positions.  The other sports highlighted are ice hockey, figure skating, speed skating, and skiing.

First Day City:  The First Day of Issue ceremony took place in Orlando, Florida, during the 1992 US Figure Skating Championships.  The program included a precision ice skating performance, with skaters carrying flags picturing the stamp images.

More fun facts:  The US Postal Service was an official sponsor of the 1992 Winter and Summer Olympic Games. 

History the stamp represents:  The 1992 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XVI Olympic Winter Games, were held in Albertville, France.  Over 1,800 athletes competed in 18 events.  Two bobsled events were held, the two-man and four-man.

Sixty-four nations were represented, including seven countries competing for the first time in the Winter games.  The Unified Team was formed from six former Soviet bloc nations.  Other former Soviet countries competed independently.  Germany competed as a unified country for the first time since 1964 and won the most medals.  The US won 11 medals including gold in women’s speed skating (Bonnie Blair won two) and women’s figure skating (Kristi Yamaguchi).