The US IGY Stamp

Like many nations participating in the IGY, the United States issued a postage stamp commemorating this scientific undertaking. The following information is quoted from the Post Office Department’s press release announcing the issuance of the stamp:

“The 3-cent International Geophysical Year commemorative postage stamp to be placed on First-Day sale on May 31, 1958 in Chicago is based on a photograph of the sun and depicts an area of intense solar activity such as occurs periodically and is among the phenomena being studied during the 18-month period of the International Geophysical Year.

“The United States program in the International Geophysical Year is under the direction of the National Academy of Sciences.

“Superimposed above the solar disc and the fiery solar prominences emanating from it is a segment of Michaelangelo’s [sic] famous fresco ‘The Creation of Adam.’

“Ervine Metzl, the designer of the stamp, explained that ‘In the small confines of a postage stamp we have endeavored to picture a man’s wonder at the unknown together with his determination to understand it and his need for spiritual inspiration to further his knowledge.’

“Across the top of the stamp is the wording ‘International Geophysical Year 1957-1958,’ arranged in two lines, and across the bottom is ‘U.S. Postage 3c.’ All the lettering is in white-face Gothic.

“The stamp will be printed on the Giori rotary sheet-fed press, in two colors, black and orange, and perforated on a L-type machine. The stamp will be 0.84 by 1.44 inches in dimension, arranged horizontally, and issued in sheets of 50 with an initial printing of 120,000,000 authorized.”

Image courtesy of Dave Meier

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