California Gold Rush

painting of four men sifting for gold in a river

Artist: John Berkey
Art director: Howard E. Paine
First day of issue: June 18, 1999

Oil on board

Several scholars helped to ensure the accuracy of the clothing and equipment shown in this painting, but one historian raised an interesting point: Free black men participated in the gold rush, too. Using new reference pictures, the design team altered the final stamp to reflect this important fact.

California Gold Rush 1849 stamp with a painting of four men sifting for gold in a river

Art of the Stamp