the john muir exhibit - stamps - john muir 1964 postage stamp and first day covers
John Muir 1964 Postage Stamp
and First Day Covers
While most of the links on this page were last updated in 2000, and updated (2022) and expanded, a more regularly updated version of John Muir Stamps and First Day Covers may be found on the Planet Patriot John Muir Postage Stamps and Covers website. That site is regularly updated by American First Day Cover Society member Harold Wood, and features a more visual approach with a photo gallery of John Muir First Day Covers.
John Muir and Redwood Forest
This 5-cent stamp honoring the naturalist John Muir was issued through the Martinez, California, post office on April 29, 1964. Designed by Rudolph Wendelin, the stamp portrays a redwood forest with a shaft of light coming down at an angle through the trees to highlight Muir with a hiking staff. Superimposed on this background is a drawing of Muir's face.
This stamp was printed on the Giori press and issued in panes of fifty stamps each. An initial printing of 125 million stamps was authorized. This 5 cent postage stamp was issued on April 29, 1964. Scott Number: 1245.
Background on the Stamp
- U.S. Information Service Press Release - March, 1964
. See also PDF of original press release on forever.com.
- PDF of Dedication Ceremony Program John Muir Commemorative Stamp First Day of Issue 29 April 1964 (on forever.com)
- S.P.A. Journal article "John Muir" by Belmont Faries - Comprehensive background, with illustrations, about the design and making of the stamp.
See also PDF of original on forever.com
- S.P.A. Journal letter to the editor (1965) by Edward N. Munns - relates the idea and lobbying for the commemorative stamp.
See PDF of originl on forever.com
- Address by William M. McMillan, Assisant Postmaster General - a bit of "puffing" about Post Office success, but some interesting background on the Muir stamp.
See PDF of original on forever.com.
- About the designer, Rudolph Wendelin
- Inspiration for Stamp Design Found in John Muir's Words - news article 9 May 1964 (source unknown)
- John Muir Dedication Ceremony April 29, 1964 by Geroge A. Connes from First Days, American First Day Cover Society, Vol. 9, No. 6 Whole Number 51, July-Aug 1964 - , pages 31 - 33.
- John Muir, Father of Parks - a Talk by Edward A. Hummel, National Park Service, 29 April 1964
- John Muir Stamp First Day Ceremonies, Stamps (Ads removed), pg.108, 18 April 1964 – (PDF on forever.com) announcing the planned ceremonies.
- Additional press releases and information pertaining to this stamp is found on Documents for 1964 Postage Stamp album on forever.com.
First Day Covers
Mellone's Specialized Cachet Catalog of First Day Covers (1960s, Vol, II (FDC Publishing Co, 1985),
lists thirty-five different cachet designs for the First Day Covers for the 1964 John Muir postage stamp. See pages 173-174 from the Mellone Catalog listing the John Muir First Day Covers of 1964 (PDF on forever.com). A complete listing of each of these First Day Covers, indicating the Mellone number and the cachet maker are provided in the listing below. (Non-Mellone-catalogued first day covers are provided at the end of this list.)
The links contain scans with descriptions of most of these first day covers.
Cachets Not in Mellone Catalog
Combination Covers
Event Covers
(Covers celebrating dates other than 1964 First Day of Issue)
Please contact the harold.wood@sierraclub.org if
you are aware of additional First Day Covers not listed here, or if you have
any of the missing items from the Mellone catalog listing, for addition to this
collection. Please e-mail your scan of the cover for inclusion, or if you do
not have access to a scanner, please provide a color photocopy.
Other Philatelic Collectibles
John Muir was subsequently honored with a 32 cent postage stamp in 1998, which also has many First Day Covers.
Sources:Scott, 1987, Specialized Catalogs of U.S. Stamps
Mellone's specialized Cachet Catalog of First Day Covers (1960s, Vol, II)
American Philatelic Research Library
See also:
130th Anniversary of the Sierra Club with John Muir Cachet by Coverscape (2022)
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