American Treasures - Albert Bierstadt

This is the stamp that I bought to match the invitations I just made for our coming family reunion. And since I just learned about it... I thought you should too! :) I think it is beautiful! Here is the description...

This is a Double-sided Booklet of 20 42–cent Albert Bierstadt commemorative stamps, depicting his 1864 painting, “Valley of the Yosemite”.

On August 14, 2008, in Hartford, Connecticut, the Postal Service™ issued a 42–cent, Albert Bierstadt commemorative stamp, designed by Derry Noyes of Washington, DC.

For this eighth issuance in the American Treasures stamp series, art director Derry Noyes used “Valley of the Yosemite”, an 1864 oil–on–paperboard painting by Albert Bierstadt. It belongs to the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.

Inaugurated in 2001 with the Amish Quilts stamp pane, the American Treasures series is intended to showcase beautiful works of American fine art and crafts. The 2002, 2003, and 2004 issuances featured artwork by John James Audubon, Mary Cassatt, and Martin Johnson Heade, respectively. The theme returned to textiles with the issuance of the New Mexico Rio Grande Blankets stamp booklet in 2005 and the Quilts of Gee’s Bend booklet in 2006. The 2007 issuance featured a leaded Favrile–glass window designed by Louis Comfort Tiffany.

{via usps.com}