- Home
- Collections
- Search the Collection
- 3c Eastern Bluebird single
3c Eastern Bluebird single
Object Details
- Description
- On April 3, 1996, the United States Postal Service issued a redesigned version of the stamp (Scott 3033). To conform to current USPS policy, the denomination inscription “03” was replaced with “3¢” and a black “1996” year date was added to the bottom left corner of the stamp. Since American Bank Note Company no longer held the contract with the Postal Service, the printing job went to the Bureau of Engraving and Printing.
- The Bureau of Engraving and Printing printed the redesigned black, yellow, cyan, magenta, and light tan definitive on the six-color Goebel Optiforma webfed offset press (043). The stamp was perforated 11 on the Eureka stroke perforator. The stamp was printed and distributed in panes of one hundred, ten across and ten down, offset printed by plates of four hundred subjects. One group of five offset plate numbers was printed in the selvage adjacent to one upper-corner stamp and one lower-corner stamp on the same side. “© USPS 1996.” “100 x .03 = $3.00.” and “PLATE/POSITION” and a pane position diagram were printed in the selvage.
- The eastern bluebird (Sialia sialis) is a medium-sized thrush found in open woodlands, farmlands, and orchards. The eastern bluebird is approximately 6-8 inches long with a wingspan of 10-13 inches, weighing 1-1.1 ounces. Adults have a white belly. Adult males are bright blue on top and have a red throat and breast. Adult females have duller blue wings and tail, a brownish throat and breast, and a grey crown and back. Eastern bluebirds are found in the eastern United States.
- The Bluebird is the state bird of Missouri (1927) and New York (1970).
- References:
- Linn’s U.S. Stamp Yearbook 1991
- Linn’s U.S. Stamp Yearbook 1996
- Scott 2005 Specialized Catalogue of U.S. Stamps and Covers
- Cornell Lab of Ornithology, All About Birds (http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Eastern_Bluebird.html)
- NETSTATE.com (http://www.netstate.com/states/tables/st_birds.htm)
- mint; perf. 11
- Credit line
- Copyright United States Postal Service. All rights reserved.
- Data Source
- National Postal Museum
- Date
- April 3, 1996
- Object number
- 1998.2008.71
- Type
- Postage Stamps
- Medium
- paper; ink (multicolored); adhesive / lithography
- Place
- United States of America
- See more items in
- National Postal Museum Collection
- Title
- Scott Catalogue USA 3033
- Topic
- Animals
- U.S. Stamps
- Record ID
- npm_1998.2008.71
- Usage
- Usage conditions apply
There are restrictions for re-using this image. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page .
International media Interoperability Framework
IIIF provides researchers rich metadata and media viewing options for comparison of works across cultural heritage collections. Visit the IIIF page to learn more.