STAMP DESIGN

STAMP COMPONENTS

Country
of Origin

Stamp
Subject

Stamp
Value
STAMP DESIGN ELEMENTS
Stamps incorporate common design elements:

Color
Line
Shape
Value
U.S. Postal Museum Curriculum Guides: “Design it! Giving Voice to America,” Lesson 3
 COLOR

Color is the visual cue that defines a

space or line in an image

National-themed stamps are strengthened

by use of identifiable color combinations
COLOR
 LINE

Lines provide structure and indicate

direction in an image
LINE
 SHAPE
Shapes are enclosed by lines and offer
structure for the stamp design

Types of shapes:
Geometric (circle, square, triangle, etc.)
Organic (natural, non-geometric)
SHAPE
 VALUE
Value is the range of light and dark in
colors.

Value creates contrast and depth for a 2-

D image and enhances the central image.
VALUE
STAMP DESIGN PRINCIPLES
In addition to considering design elements like
color, line, shape and value, designers apply
several design principles to stamps:

Type
Rhythm
Unity
Proportion

U.S. Postal Museum Curriculum Guides: “Design it! Giving Voice to America,” Lesson 3
 TYPE
Font style and placement can provide
additional information about an image.

Type comes into play for the ‘country of

origin’ and ‘stamp value’ elements.
TYPE
 RHYTHM
Rhythm is the repetition of design
elements (like color, line, shape, value) to
provide a sense of movement and make
an image appear dynamic
RHYTHM
 UNITY
Unity is a measured arrangement of
elements (color, line, shape, value) to
best express the whole picture.

The integration of design elements results

in a cohesive, balanced image
UNITY
 PROPORTION
Designers have to consider how their
image will appear on a very small scale.
“When designing for a stamp, one must
consider several keys to designing ‘small’:
A central image is used—usually at the very center of the design
Keep intricate details to a minimum
Use shape and line to direct the eye
Simple use of color and value simply to help make a clear image
Limit the use of typography”

U.S. Postal Museum Curriculum Guides: “Design it! Giving Voice to America,” Lesson 3
PROPORTION
 SELECTING A SUBJECT
The USPS and the Citizens Stamp Advisory Committee (CSAC) have 12
criteria guiding stamp subject selection:

U.S. postage stamps and stationery primarily will feature American or American-related subjects
No living person shall be honored by portrayal on U.S. postage
Stamps honoring individuals may be issued in conjunction with a birthday, date of birth, etc.
Events of historical significance shall be considered for commemoration only on anniversaries in multiples of 50
years
Events, persons, themes of significance should have widespread, national resonance
Stamps should not honor political, charitable, fraternal organizations or promote commercial interests
Stamps should not honor towns, counties, primary/secondary schools, hospitals, libraries or similar organizations
Honoring anniversaries of statehood can be considered at 50 year intervals from date of entry into the Union
Stamps should not honor religious institutions nor individuals whose main contributions are associated with
religious beliefs or endeavors
Semipostal stamps are designed to raise funds for causes determined to be in the national public interest and
appropriate.
Stamps commemorating higher education institutions will be considered for stamped cards and only in
connection with the 200th anniversary of their founding
Stamp subjects should not be the same as another issued within 50 years (excluding holidays and national
themes)

Proposals should be submitted three years in advance of the proposed date of issue(!)
STAMP HISTORY
THE FIRST POSTAGE STAMP
Introduced in Britain in 1840
Called the "Penny Black Stamp"
Designed by Henry Corbould
Remained in use for forty years

Finlay, William. An Illustrated History of Stamp Design , 1974.

 EARLY STAMPS
The first stamps resembled coins
Like coins, there was little variation in
the main elements of their design
Seen as means to an end
End product reflected the available
printing technology of the time

"Postage Stamps." Oxford Art Online.

FIRST PICTORIAL STAMPS
By the end of the 1840s, stamps expanded to
feature pictorial elements beyond portraits
The first known instance of this is an 1849
commemorative stamp from Australia,
recognizing the 100th anniversary of New
South Wales
CHANGES IN STAMP DESIGN

By the end of the 19th century, stamp

designs began to incorporate:
additional colors
a variety of shapes
more dynamic compositions
STAMP DESIGN PROGRAM
STAMPS
Manager of Stamp Development and
Art Directors
Citizens Stamp Advisory Committee
(CSAC)
On average, 25-30 new stamp
designs debut each year

Carter, Rob. "US Postal Service Stamp Design Program." Graphis . Jan-Feb 2004, p.
126.
STAMP TRENDS
Popular culture
Large scale scenes
High design
DESIGN YOUR OWN STAMP!
Zazzle
PhotoStamps
stampexpressions
PictureItPostage.com
 NON-PROFIT MAILING

Indicia / Permit Imprints - markings on a mail piece

showing that postage has been paid by the sender

Very strict standards in U.S. Postal Service for design,

placement, and content of indicia
EXAMPLES OF INDICIA
SOME MORE EXAMPLES...
AND ONE MORE
 INDICIA STANDARDS
5.3.1: Production

Embossed or unembossed permit imprint indicia may be

made by printing press, hand stamp ... or similar device.
They may not be typewritten or hand-drawn.

5.3.3: Indicia Legibility and Color

The permit imprint indicia must be legible and of a color

that contrasts sufficiently ... for readability. A different
color may be used to highlight the background.
 INDICIA STANDARDS
5.3.4: Indicia Placement on Mailpiece

Permit imprint indicia must read in the same direction as

the delivery address ... must not encroach on reserved
space and can be placed in one of these four positions:

a. Upper right corner of the mailpiece.

b. Upper right corner of the address area.
c. To the right of the address on an address label.
d. To the right of the address on an insert appearing
through a window envelope.
 INDICIA STANDARDS
5.3.6&7: ... Format

NON-PROFIT ORG.
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
CITY, STATE
PERMIT NO. 1234

Optionally, may show the mailing date, amount of

postage paid, number of ounces for which postage is
paid, and the ZIP Code
 INDICIA STANDARDS
5.3.11: Optional Indicia Format

a) Outlining box is optional

b) .5 inch by .5 inch minimum rectangular area
c) No excess printing
d) Same as c) but worded differently
e) Minimum font size of 4 points
f) Except as required to enclose the permit information, decorative designs intended to be part of the indicia
design must appear below or to the left of the permit information in an area extending no farther than 4-1/2 inches
to the left of the right edge, and 1-1/2 inches below the top edge of the mailpiece, address area, or address label,
as applicable. Such designs must not resemble or imitate a postage meter imprint, postage stamp, postcard
postage, or other postage payment method; and they must not include words, symbols, or designs used by the
USPS to identify a class of mail, price of postage, or level of service, unless such elements are correctly used
under the applicable standards for the mailpiece on which they appear and the corresponding postage and fees
have been paid.
 RESOURCES
http://www.postalmuseum.si.edu/
Carter, Rob. "US Postal Service Stamp
Design Program." Graphis . Jan-Feb
2004, p. 126.
Finlay, William. An Illustrated History of
Stamp Design , 1974.
http://www.usps.com/postagesolutions/