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Philatelic News
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 3, 2002
Stamp Release #02-004
WRITER/POET LANGSTON HUGHES HONORED IN BLACK HERITAGE COMMEMORATIVE STAMP SERIES
U.S. Postal Service Celebrates 25th Anniversary of Black Heritage Stamp Series
U.S. Postal Service Celebrates 25th Anniversary of Black Heritage Stamp Series
NEW YORK, N.Y. - Langston Hughes - known for his insightful, colorful portrayals of black life in America from the twenties through the sixties - will soon receive one of the nation's highest honors when the U.S. Postal Service issues a new commemorative postage stamp in his honor.The stamp commemorates both the centennial of Hughes' birth and the 25th anniversary of the Black Heritage series. The Black Heritage series began in 1978 with the issuance of the Harriet Tubman commemorative stamp. The Hughes stamp will be issued February 1, 2002, at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, New York, N.Y.
"Langston Hughes used the collections of the Schomburg Center throughout his career. He donated part of his papers to the Center and his cremains are interred in the atrium of the Center's Langston Hughes Auditorium," said Howard Dodson, Director, Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture.
"This 25th anniversary edition of the Black Heritage Stamp Series is a fitting tribute to the centennial of Hughes' birth. The Schomburg Center is pleased to host the First Day of Issue Ceremony," said Dodson.
Hughes, considered one of the most important American writers of the 20th century, joins 24 other outstanding African-American activists, theorists, educators, and leaders. Other notable Americans in the Black Heritage commemorative series include: Martin Luther King, Jr., Benjamin Banneker, Dr. Carter G. Woodson, Madam C.J. Walker, Malcolm X (El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz), Patricia Roberts Harris, and Roy Wilkins.
Born in Joplin, Mo., on Feb. 1, 1902, Hughes was the grandson of Charles Howard Langston.
His grandmother raised Hughes until he was twelve, when he moved to Lincoln, Ill., to live with his mother. It was during his high school years that he began writing poetry. Following graduation from high school, Hughes spent a year in Mexico, a year at Columbia University, and then traveled to Africa and Europe. He finished his college education at Lincoln University in Pa. Hughes was a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.
Although Hughes considered himself a poet first, he also wrote novels, short stories and plays. Some of Hughes most noted works of poetry include: The Weary Blues (1926); The Negro Mother and other Dramatic Recitations (1931); The Dream Keeper (1932); Shakespeare In Harlem (1942); Fields of Wonder (1947); One Way Ticket (1947); The First Book of Jazz (1955); Tambourines To Glory (1958); Selected Poems (1959); and The Best of Simple (1961).
Hughes died of cancer on May 22, 1967 in Harlem, NY. His block of East 127th Street was renamed "Langston Hughes Place."
Richard Sheaff of Scottsdale, AZ, was designer and art director for the stamp. The stamp art is a 1946 black-and-white photograph of Hughes taken in New York City by the renowned photographer Henri Cartier-Bresson,--a friend of Hughes.
One hundred twenty million Langston Hughes self-adhesive stamps will be printed for the February 2002 issuance.
To see the Langston Hughes stamp, go to the Postal Service Web site at www.usps.com. Click on News and Events then Philatelic News, and locate the online version of this press release. Images of many past and future stamp issues can be found in the Collector's Corner of the Postal Store at www.usps.com/shop.
All current stamps and other philatelic products, as well as a free comprehensive catalog, are available by calling toll free 1 800 STAMP-24. In addition, a selection of current stamps and gift items are available online at the Postal Store.
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TECHNICAL DETAILS
Issue: Langston Hughes
Item Number: 452000
Denomination & Type of Issue: 34-cent Commemorative
Format: Pane of 20 (1 design)
Series: Black Heritage
Issue Date & City: February 01, 2002, New York, NY 10199
Photographer: Henri Cartier-Bresson
Designer: Richard Sheaff, Scottsdale, AZ
Engraver: N/A
Art Director: Richard Sheaff, Scottsdale, AZ
Typographer: Richard Sheaff, Scottsdale, AZ
Modeler: Banknote Corporation of America, Inc. (BCA)
Manufacturing Process: Offset, Microprint
Printer: Banknote Corporation of America, Inc. (BCA)
Printed at: Browns Summit, NC
Press Type: Man Roland, 300
Stamps per Pane: 20
Print Quantity: 120 million stamps
Paper Type: Nonphosphored type III, Block tagged
Gum Type: Self-adhesive
Processed at: BCA, Browns Summit, NC
Colors: Black, Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, PMS 1545 (Brown)
Stamp Orientation: Vertical
Image Area (w x h): 0.82 x 1.39 in./20.828 x 35.306 mm
Overall Size (w x h): 0.99 x 1.56 in./25.146 x 39.624 mm
Pane Size (w x h): 5.90 x 7.26 in./149.86 x 184.404 mm
Plate Size: 120 stamps per revolution
Plate Numbers: "B" followed by five (5) single digits
Marginal Markings: © 2001 USPS · Plate Numbers in four corners · Plate position diagram · Barcode
Catalog Item Number(s): 452040 Pane of 20 w/plate no. - $6.80
452030 Block of 10 - $3.40
452020 Block of 4 - $1.36
452061 First Day Cover - $0.55
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 new stamps at their local Post Office, by telephone at 1-800 STAMP-24, and at the Postal Store Website at www.usps.com. They should affix the stamps to envelopes of their choice, address the envelopes (to themselves or others) and place them in a larger envelope addressed to: LANGSTON HUGHES COMMEMORATIVE STAMPS, 421 8TH ST RM 2029B, NEW YORK, NY 10199-9998.
After applying the first day of issue postmark, the Postal Service will return the envelopes through the mail. There is no charge for the postmark. All orders must be postmarked by March 4, 2002.
Stamp Fulfillment Services (SFS) also offers first day covers for new stamp issues and postal stationery items postmarked with the official first day of issue cancellation. Each item has an individual catalog number and is offered in the quarterly USA Philatelic catalog. Customers may request a free catalog by telephoning 1 800 STAMP-24 or writing to: INFORMATION FULFILLMENT, DEPT 6270, US POSTAL SERVICE, PO BOX 219014, KANSAS CITY, MO 64121-9014. First day covers remain on sale for at least one year after the stamp's issuance.
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For 226 years, the United States Postal Service has been the gateway to the household, binding friends, families and neighbors together. It is an independent federal agency that handles 46 percent of the world's mail volume, with annual revenues of $65 billion. The Postal Service is not funded with taxpayer dollars, but derives its revenues solely from the sale of postage and other products and services it provides. Its unrivaled service network means the Postal Service can deliver money, messages and merchandise daily to 135 million addresses, and with some of the most affordable postage rates in the world.
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