US #3188h
1999 Ford Mustang – Celebrate the Century (1960s)
• Part of the seventh sheet in the Celebrate the Century stamp series issued from 1998-2000
• Commemorates the iconic Ford Mustang
• Includes text on the back with historical details
Stamp Category: Commemorative
Series: Celebrate th... more
US #3188h
1999 Ford Mustang – Celebrate the Century (1960s)
• Part of the seventh sheet in the Celebrate the Century stamp series issued from 1998-2000
• Commemorates the iconic Ford Mustang
• Includes text on the back with historical details
Stamp Category: Commemorative
Series: Celebrate the Century
Value: 33¢ First Class Mail Rate
First Day of Issue: September 17, 1999
First Day City: Green Bay, Wisconsin
Quantity Issued: 120,000,000
Printed by: Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd.
Printing Method: Offset, Intaglio
Format: Panes of 15
Perforations: 11.5
Tagging: Block tagging
Why the stamp was issued: To honor the beloved Ford Mustang and its long-lasting popularity among Americans.
About the stamp design: Pictures a painting of a red 1964 Mustang by Keith Birdsong. Includes the following text on the back: “Introduced April 1964, the Mustang’s sporty styling, economic value, and long list of options appealed to men and women of all ages. Some 22,000 orders were taken the first day, and one million were produced in less than 24 months.”
First Day City: The First Day of Issue Ceremony was held at the Brown County Exposition Center in Green Bay, across the street from Lambeau Field, home of the Green Bay Packers football team.
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: The public’s earliest look at the Ford Mustang was in 1964 at the New York World’s Fair. Demand for the car was overwhelming almost immediately. On April 17, 1964, the day the Mustang became available for purchase, about 22,000 were sold. Ford estimated first-year sales of the car would be 100,000. That number was reached in just four months. In 1965, over 680,000 Mustangs were produced, setting a record for first-year sales.
The first Mustangs manufactured are considered 1964½ models. They were available only as a convertible or a coupe, and sold for around $2,300. In 1965, the “GT” and “fastback” models were produced. Options available on the 1965 Mustang were a 271-horsepower engine, 3-speed “Cruise-O-Matic” transmission, remote-control outside mirror, and red band sidewall tires.
Ford updated the Mustang every year. In 1966, the interior of the car could be designed in 34 different styles and colors. Consumers were able to create “the car of their dreams” from a Ford dealer’s order book.
The era of the classic Mustang came to an end in 1973. It was replaced by a smaller, lighter car with many cosmetic changes. After 35 years of continuous production, today the Ford Mustang is one of the most successful and long-lived of collectible automobiles.
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