Why the stamps were issued: To honor iconic post office murals created during the Great Depression.
About the stamp designs: Each of the five stamp designs pictures a different mural from a US post office: “Kiowas Moving Camp” (1936) Anadarko, Oklahoma; “Mountains and Yucca” (1937) Deming, New Mexico; “Antelope” (1939) Florence, Colorado; “Sugarloaf Mountain” (1940) Rockville, Maryland; and “Air Mail” (1941) Piggott, Arkansas.
First Day City: The First Day of Issue Ceremony was held at Piggott Main Post Office in Piggott, Arkansas, the location of one of the murals on the stamps.
History the stamp represents: When President Franklin Roosevelt came into office during the Great Depression, it was his goal not only to recover the country’s economy, but also the morale of the people. One way he accomplished this was by providing opportunities for artists to create new artwork for federal buildings and other public places.
Some of the most famous art pieces created under the New Deal were the huge murals commissioned to hang in newly built post offices across the country. The artists who painted these murals were chosen by the United States Department of the Treasury in a special contest. In total, these artists created 1,400 paintings in over 1,300 cities, many of which continue to hang in their original locations.
Post office murals measured around 12 feet by 5 feet and were most often oil paintings. Artists were recommended to visit the town or city they were to create a mural for in order to get a good idea of the area’s cultural values. Five of these paintings were honored on a set of 2019 postage stamps. The stamps honor the history of these murals as well as the artists who painted them.
Some post office murals have been lost to the ravages of time. That’s why the USPS has taken steps to renovate and protect these striking pieces of the past so they may be enjoyed for years to come.
