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USPS News: Philatelic Releases
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 21, 2001
Stamp Release No. 01-048
FEMALE ARTIST HONORED WITH U.S. POSTAGE STAMP
Postal Service Continues Its Celebration of Fine Arts With Frida Kahlo Stamp
Postal Service Continues Its Celebration of Fine Arts With Frida Kahlo Stamp
PHOENIX, Ariz. — She influenced artists around the world with her colorful self-portraits. Mexican artist, Frida Kahlo, was honored today with a U.S. postage stamp at a ceremony held at Phoenix Art Museum. This is the first Hispanic woman to be honored with a U.S. postage stamp.The 34-cent Frida Kahlo stamp will be available at Phoenix post offices today and at post offices across the country beginning tomorrow.
"The Postal Service has a proud tradition of honoring those special people who have had a significant influence on American history, art and culture," said Benjamin P. Ocasio, Vice President, Diversity Development, for the Postal Service, who dedicated the stamp.
"The Frida Kahlo stamp allows us to reach out across communities to let everyone know that this organization has a commitment to diversity that involves both our customers and our employees. Our stamp program is a wonderful reflection of this commitment," he said.
The event was held in conjunction with the National Association of Hispanic Journalists which convened its 19th Annual Convention in Phoenix at the same time. The NAHJ convention attracted many of the nation's top Latino journalists and media executives who gathered to discuss issues affecting Latinos in the media and news coverage of the country's Hispanic community.
"As Latinos we are pleased by the U.S. Postal Service's recognition of the artistic genius of Frida Kahlo," said NAHJ President Cecilia Alvear. "This stamp, honoring a Mexican artist who has transcended 'la frontera' and has become an icon to Hispanics, feminists and art lovers, will be a further reminder of the continuous cultural contributions of Latinos to the United States."
Joining Ocasio was Charles Davis, District Manager, Postal Service; Johnray Egelhoff, Postmaster of Phoenix; Alvaro A. Alvarez, Postmaster of Tucson; James K. Ballinger, Director of Phoenix Art Museum and Skip Rimsza, Mayor of Phoenix.
Phoenix Art Museum is currently featuring the exhibit "Frida Kahlo, Diego Rivera and Twentieth-Century Mexican Art: The Jacques and Natasha Gelman Collection" at the museum's Steele Gallery until June 24. The Gelman Collection is widely regarded as the world's most significant private holding of 20th century Mexican art, and contains the painting featured on the stamp, Frida Kahlo's "Self-Portrait with Necklace."
"Phoenix Art Museum is proud to have been chosen to host this prestigious event and provide an opportunity for people to see the original painting featured on the stamp," said James K. Ballinger, director of Phoenix Art Museum.
Kahlo was born in Coyoacan, Mexico, on July 6, 1907. Stricken by polio in early childhood and seriously injured in a streetcar accident at the age of 18, Kahlo endured severe pain throughout her life. The artist's physical suffering, her inability to bear children, and her tumultuous marriage to Mexican muralist Diego Rivera are reflected in much of her work.
While the subject of Kahlo's art was primarily autobiographical, her style was influenced by 19th century art and Mexican folk art traditions. During her lifetime she exhibited her paintings in New York City, Paris and Mexico City.
After her death in 1954, Kahlo's audience grew. Her work has significantly influenced Chicana artists in the United States, and since the mid-1970s she has been a role model for women in the Mexican-American and feminist communities.
The stamp art features an oil-on-metal self-portrait painted in 1933 and signed Frieda Kahlo. Until the late 1930s, she spelled her name with an "e", in the German manner—although it is spelled Frida on her birth certificate.
Designed by Richard Sheaff of Scottsdale, Ariz., the pane includes 20 stamps of one design, a selvage photo and the quotation: "I paint self-portraits because I am so often alone, because I am the person I know best." The color photograph of Kahlo on the selvage is a carbro print made by renowned portrait photographer Nickolas Muray. Muray did not date his photographs, but this one was probably taken in the late 1930s.
To see the Frida Kahlo stamp, and other forthcoming stamps and stationery in the 2001 U.S. stamp program, visit www.usps.com and click on "Stamp Release Schedule." To see previous releases, select "Index of Stamp Issues."
All current stamps and other philatelic products, as well as a free philatelic catalog, are available by calling toll free 1 800 STAMP-24. A selection of current stamps and gift items are also available online at the Postal Store.
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TECHNICAL DETAILS
Issue: Frida Kahlo
Item Number: 451200
Denomination & Type of Issue: 34-cent commemorative
Format: Pane of 20 (1 design)
Issue Date & City: June 21, 2001, Phoenix, AZ 85026
Artist: Frida Kahlo, Painting Courtesy National Institute of Fine Arts and Literature
Selvage Photographer: Nickolas Muray, Courtesy George Eastman House
Designer: Richard Sheaff, Scottsdale, AZ
Art Director: Richard Sheaff, Scottsdale, AZ
Typographer: Richard Sheaff, Scottsdale, AZ
Modeler: Joseph Sheeran
Manufacturing Process: Offset/Microprinting "USPS"
Printer: Ashton-Potter (USA) Ltd.
Printed at: Sterling Sommer, Tonawanda, NY
Press Type: Akiyama, 628
Stamps per Pane: 20
Print Quantity: 55 million stamps
Paper Type: Nonphosphored, Type III
Gum Type: Water-activated
Processed at: Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd.
Colors: Black, Cyan, Yellow, Magenta
Stamp Orientation: Vertical
Image Area (w x h): 0.84 x 1.41 in./21.336 x 35.814 mm
Overall Size (w x h): 0.99 x 1.56 in./25.146 x 39.624 mm
Full Pane Size (w x h): 9.0 x 7.375 in./228.6 x 187.326 mm
Plate Size: 80 stamps per revolution
Plate Numbers: "P" followed by four (4) single digits
Marginal Markings: © 2000 USPS - Price - Plate Position Diagram - Plate Numbers Side selvage text and portrait of Frida Kahlo - Bottom selvage Text
Catalog Item Number(s): 451240 Full Pane of 20 w/plate no.- $6.80
451230 Block of 10 - $3.40
451220 Block of 4 - $1.36
451261 First Day Cover - $0.55
Postal Retail Store
Item Number(s): 451240 Full Pane - $6.80
HOW TO ORDER THE FIRST DAY OF ISSUE POSTMARK
Customers have 30 days to obtain the first day of issue postmark by mail. They may purchase the new stamps at their local post office, affix the stamps to envelopes of their choice, address an envelope (to themselves or others), and place them in a larger envelope addressed to: FRIDA KAHLO STAMP, POSTMASTER, 4949 E VAN BUREN STREET, PHOENIX AZ 85026-9991.
After applying the first day of issue postmark, the Postal Service returns the envelope through the mail. There is no charge for the postmark. Requests for first day of issue cancellation must be postmarked by July 21, 2001.