Fruits & Vegetables Stamps on Sale Nationwide and Online Beginning July 17, 2020
The United States Postal Service (USPS) today released its newest Forever stamps, honoring the wholesome beauty of American produce, captured in still lifes. The Fruits & Vegetables stamps were dedicated in a virtual ceremony and are now being sold at Post Office locations nationwide and online at usps.com.
Art director Derry Noyes designed the stamps with existing art by illustrator and painter Robert Papp.
Papp found inspiration for these stunning still lifes in the artistic traditions of Renaissance Europe. For his paintings, Papp used the same classical method that artists have worked with for hundreds of years. After sketching his subject, he transferred the drawing to canvas mounted on hardboard. Working in oil, he underpainted in burnt umber and then added color, slowly building up to the desired opacity and intensity.
Because fresh produce has a relatively short shelf life, Papp also took photographs of his still life compositions to finish his work. Included in the series are stamps featuring red and black plums, heirloom and cherry tomatoes, carrots, lemons, blueberries, red and green grapes, lettuces, strawberries, eggplants and figs.
Fruits & Vegetables are being issued as Forever stamps in booklets of 20. Forever stamps will always be equal in value to the current First-Class Mail 1-ounce price.
Customers may purchase stamps and other philatelic products through The Postal Store at usps.com/shop, by calling 800-STAMP24 (800-782-6724), by mail through USA Philatelic, or at Post Offices nationwide.
Buy stamps today!
The Postal Service receives no tax dollars for operating expenses and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations.
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Source: US Postal Service
Ed. Note: Read more about the history of the postal service here. The postal service has been delivering mail daily to US addresses (Monday-Saturday) since 1863 — 157 years of service.
Note that changes implemented July 2020 by a newly-appointed Postmaster General are projected to affect daily service moving forward.
