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Smithsonian sunburst Smithsonian National Postal Museum
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20c Balloons block of four

Object Details

Description
The world's first manned flight occurred in 1783 in a balloon over Paris, France. To honor the 200th anniversary of manned flight, many nations, including the United States, issued commemorative postage stamps of aerostats. The United States Postal Service issued this set of four 20-cent stamps in 1983.
The set consists of four designs, two vertical images and two horizontal. The vertical set features images of the Civil War observation balloon Intrepid and stratospheric balloon Explorer II. The horizontal set features a combined image of modern sport hot air balloons.
David Meltzer designed the stamps, which were printed using the photogravure process. The stamps were produced in plates of 160 stamps, in four sheets of forty each. Perforation is 11.
Washington, DC, and Albuquerque, New Mexico, hosted First Day of Issue ceremonies on March 31, 1983. Some first day covers bear postmarks for both cities for the date.
To issue the stamps with appropriate drama and grandeur, Malcolm Forbes, publisher of Forbes Magazine, tethered his hot air balloon, the Chateau de Balleroy, on the National Mall. The first set of stamps was cancelled in the tethered balloon and then sold by the postmaster general to Mr. Forbes, who piloted the balloon. Gusty winds blemished the morning's festivities. The balloon's flight was consequently brief, and newspapers described the postmaster as "smiling grimly" while the balloon tossed in the wind.
mint
Credit line
Copyright United States Postal Service. All rights reserved.
Data Source
National Postal Museum
Date
March 31, 1983
Object number
1999.2004.286.1-4
Type
Postage Stamps
Medium
paper; ink (multicolored)/ photogravure
Place
United States of America
See more items in
National Postal Museum Collection
Title
Scott Catalogue USA 2035a
Topic
Technology & Inventions
U.S. Stamps
Record ID
npm_1999.2004.286.1-4
Usage
Usage conditions apply
GUID
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/hm8f3f032cb-cd87-4231-8f0b-d018bcac5a6f

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HomeSmithsonian National Postal Museum

Visit »

Open daily 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Admission is always free!

2 Massachusetts Ave., N.E.
Washington, DC 20002

The museum's main entrance is located on the corner of First Street and Massachusetts Avenue NE. Other entrances have variable hours.

street map of Postal museum

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Owney, the Railway Mail Service Mascot

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