# 3183j - 1998 32c Celebrate the Century - 1910s: Boy and Girl Scouting
US #3183j
1998 US Boy and Girl Scouting Begins – Celebrate the Century (1910s)
• Part of the second sheet in the Celebrate the Century stamp series issued from 1998-2000
• Honors the establishment of Boy and Girl Scouts
• Includes text on the back with historical details
Stamp Category: Commemorative
Series: Celebrate the Century
Value: 32¢ First Class Mail Rate
First Day of Issue: February 3, 1998
First Day City: Washington, DC
Quantity Issued: 188,000,000
Printed by: Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd.
Printing Method: Offset, Intaglio
Format: Panes of 15
Perforations: 11.6
Tagging: Block Tagging
Why the stamp was issued: To commemorate the establishment of Boy and Girl Scouts and the importance of both organizations in educating young people in practical skills as they grow up.
About the stamp design: Pictures an oil painting of two scouts in the wilderness by artist Dennis Lyall. Includes the following text on the back “The Boy Scouts of America was formed in 1910, and the Girl Scouts of the USA (at first known as Girl Guides) in 1912. Both groups introduce youth to a variety of outdoor activities and promote self-reliance and resourcefulness.”
First Day City: The First Day of Issue Ceremony was held in Washington, DC, with legendary radio and television host Larry King as master of ceremonies.
About the Celebrate the Century series: The USPS launched the Celebrate the Century series in 1998 to mark the end of the 20th century and herald the arrival of the 21st. The series includes 10 sheets of 15 stamps (150 in total), with each honoring important moments from a different decade (1900s, 10s, 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s, and 90s). At the time of completion, it was the longest and most ambitious commemorative stamp series in US history.
History the stamp represents: Scouting groups were first started in England in 1907, when Lord Robert Baden-Powell began the Boy Scouts movement. When girls became interested in belonging to a similar group, he helped his sister Agnes Baden-Powell organize the Girl Guides program as well. Scouting quickly spread to other countries.
A British Boy Scout helped American businessman William D. Boyce find his way in London’s fog. Boyce then worked with others to found the Boy Scouts of America in 1910. The Handbook for Boys was published that same year. Some of the scouts’ early contributions to their communities and their country were made to support Americans during World War I.
Juliette Gordon Low established Girl Guiding in the United States in 1912 and changed the name to Girl Scouting. The official name of the organization is Girls Scouts of the USA.
Both of these programs were developed to teach young people good citizenship and leadership, along with encouraging special interests and developing other important skills. Currently, there are over 5 million Boy Scouts and over 3 million Girl Scouts in the United States. These memberships continue to be linked nationally and worldwide.
US #3183j
1998 US Boy and Girl Scouting Begins – Celebrate the Century (1910s)
• Part of the second sheet in the Celebrate the Century stamp series issued from 1998-2000
• Honors the establishment of Boy and Girl Scouts
• Includes text on the back with historical details
Stamp Category: Commemorative
Series: Celebrate the Century
Value: 32¢ First Class Mail Rate
First Day of Issue: February 3, 1998
First Day City: Washington, DC
Quantity Issued: 188,000,000
Printed by: Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd.
Printing Method: Offset, Intaglio
Format: Panes of 15
Perforations: 11.6
Tagging: Block Tagging
Why the stamp was issued: To commemorate the establishment of Boy and Girl Scouts and the importance of both organizations in educating young people in practical skills as they grow up.
About the stamp design: Pictures an oil painting of two scouts in the wilderness by artist Dennis Lyall. Includes the following text on the back “The Boy Scouts of America was formed in 1910, and the Girl Scouts of the USA (at first known as Girl Guides) in 1912. Both groups introduce youth to a variety of outdoor activities and promote self-reliance and resourcefulness.”
First Day City: The First Day of Issue Ceremony was held in Washington, DC, with legendary radio and television host Larry King as master of ceremonies.
About the Celebrate the Century series: The USPS launched the Celebrate the Century series in 1998 to mark the end of the 20th century and herald the arrival of the 21st. The series includes 10 sheets of 15 stamps (150 in total), with each honoring important moments from a different decade (1900s, 10s, 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s, and 90s). At the time of completion, it was the longest and most ambitious commemorative stamp series in US history.
History the stamp represents: Scouting groups were first started in England in 1907, when Lord Robert Baden-Powell began the Boy Scouts movement. When girls became interested in belonging to a similar group, he helped his sister Agnes Baden-Powell organize the Girl Guides program as well. Scouting quickly spread to other countries.
A British Boy Scout helped American businessman William D. Boyce find his way in London’s fog. Boyce then worked with others to found the Boy Scouts of America in 1910. The Handbook for Boys was published that same year. Some of the scouts’ early contributions to their communities and their country were made to support Americans during World War I.
Juliette Gordon Low established Girl Guiding in the United States in 1912 and changed the name to Girl Scouting. The official name of the organization is Girls Scouts of the USA.
Both of these programs were developed to teach young people good citizenship and leadership, along with encouraging special interests and developing other important skills. Currently, there are over 5 million Boy Scouts and over 3 million Girl Scouts in the United States. These memberships continue to be linked nationally and worldwide.