2019 First-Class Forever Stamp,Transcontinental Railroad: Golden Spike

# 5379 - 2019 First-Class Forever Stamp - Transcontinental Railroad: Golden Spike

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US #5379
2019 Golden Spike – Transcontinental Railroad

• One of three stamps celebrating the 150th anniversary of the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad
• Stamp pictures the golden spike which symbolically tied together the Central and Union Pacific Railroads to complete the Transcontinental Railroad


Stamp Category:  Commemorative
Set:  Transcontinental Railroad
Value:  55¢ First Class Mail Rate (Forever)
First Day of Issue:  May 10, 2019
First Day City:  Promontory Summit, Utah
Quantity Issued:  50,400,000
Printed by:  Banknote Corporation of America
Printing Method:  Offset (with gold-foiled highlights)
Format:  Panes of 18
Tagging:  Phosphor, Block Tagged

Why the stamp was issued:  To commemorate the 150th anniversary of the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad and the golden spike’s role in its history.

About the stamp design:  Picture the golden railroad spike which ceremonially tied the western and eastern portions of the Transcontinental Railroad in Promontory Summit, Utah. Illustration by Kevin Cantrell.

Special design details:  Stamp includes gold foil highlights which add to its splendid design.

First Day City:  The First Day of Issue Ceremony was held at Golden Spike National Historic Site in Promontory Summit, Utah.

About the Transcontinental Railroad set:  Three stamps arranged to represent the joining of eastern and western portions of the Transcontinental Railroad at the Golden Spike Ceremony in Promontory Summit, Utah, 150 years ago. Stamps picture the Jupiter and No. 119 locomotives which carried officers and guests to the Golden Spike Ceremony in Promontory Summit, Utah. The third stamp pictures the ceremonial golden spike that connected the western and eastern portions of train track. Original paintings of the locomotives were by artist Michael J. Deas, while the golden spike was illustrated by Kevin Cantrell.

History the stamp represents:  On May 10, 1869, the United States’ First Transcontinental Railroad was officially finished. The “Golden Spike” ceremony took place at Promontory Summit, Utah, and joined the eastern and western tracks together. No one knows for sure how many people came to witness the event, but some estimates say there were up to 3,000.

Since the Transcontinental Railroad took six years to build, it was only fitting that the joining of the two sections be celebrated with a grand ceremony. David Hewes, a contractor from San Francisco, suggested completing the railroad with a final golden spike. The Central Pacific and Union Pacific Railroads through the idea was perfect and the ceremonial spike was forged by the William T. Garrett Foundry in San Francisco. The spike was engraved with the names of each railroad officer, the directors, and the date of the ceremony.

The date of the joining ceremony was originally set for May 8. However, a damaged bridge delayed Union Pacific No. 119 by two days. Finally, on May 10, the golden spike was carefully driven into a laurel tie with a special silver-plated maul (hammer). Telegraph operators sent messages simulating the blows so all Americans could celebrate the historic moment that the East and West were connected at last.

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US #5379
2019 Golden Spike – Transcontinental Railroad

• One of three stamps celebrating the 150th anniversary of the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad
• Stamp pictures the golden spike which symbolically tied together the Central and Union Pacific Railroads to complete the Transcontinental Railroad


Stamp Category:  Commemorative
Set:  Transcontinental Railroad
Value:  55¢ First Class Mail Rate (Forever)
First Day of Issue:  May 10, 2019
First Day City:  Promontory Summit, Utah
Quantity Issued:  50,400,000
Printed by:  Banknote Corporation of America
Printing Method:  Offset (with gold-foiled highlights)
Format:  Panes of 18
Tagging:  Phosphor, Block Tagged

Why the stamp was issued:  To commemorate the 150th anniversary of the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad and the golden spike’s role in its history.

About the stamp design:  Picture the golden railroad spike which ceremonially tied the western and eastern portions of the Transcontinental Railroad in Promontory Summit, Utah. Illustration by Kevin Cantrell.

Special design details:  Stamp includes gold foil highlights which add to its splendid design.

First Day City:  The First Day of Issue Ceremony was held at Golden Spike National Historic Site in Promontory Summit, Utah.

About the Transcontinental Railroad set:  Three stamps arranged to represent the joining of eastern and western portions of the Transcontinental Railroad at the Golden Spike Ceremony in Promontory Summit, Utah, 150 years ago. Stamps picture the Jupiter and No. 119 locomotives which carried officers and guests to the Golden Spike Ceremony in Promontory Summit, Utah. The third stamp pictures the ceremonial golden spike that connected the western and eastern portions of train track. Original paintings of the locomotives were by artist Michael J. Deas, while the golden spike was illustrated by Kevin Cantrell.

History the stamp represents:  On May 10, 1869, the United States’ First Transcontinental Railroad was officially finished. The “Golden Spike” ceremony took place at Promontory Summit, Utah, and joined the eastern and western tracks together. No one knows for sure how many people came to witness the event, but some estimates say there were up to 3,000.

Since the Transcontinental Railroad took six years to build, it was only fitting that the joining of the two sections be celebrated with a grand ceremony. David Hewes, a contractor from San Francisco, suggested completing the railroad with a final golden spike. The Central Pacific and Union Pacific Railroads through the idea was perfect and the ceremonial spike was forged by the William T. Garrett Foundry in San Francisco. The spike was engraved with the names of each railroad officer, the directors, and the date of the ceremony.

The date of the joining ceremony was originally set for May 8. However, a damaged bridge delayed Union Pacific No. 119 by two days. Finally, on May 10, the golden spike was carefully driven into a laurel tie with a special silver-plated maul (hammer). Telegraph operators sent messages simulating the blows so all Americans could celebrate the historic moment that the East and West were connected at last.