The Lure of Lithography
This Air Force 50th anniversary stamp showcases the Thunderbirds jet demonstration squad. Like other lithographed stamps, it includes elements to defeat photocopying, including unreadably small text called “microprinting.” The stamp was also the first in the United States to use Scrambled Indicia®, a feature visible only through a special lens. In August 1997, a month before the stamp was issued, 10 full panes were flown on the space shuttle Discovery; the panes were also flown by the Thunderbirds themselves. One of these Discovery panes is included in this exhibition.
Design and Production Model