A Century of Stamps

Society of Illustrators Museum of American Illustration

New York, NY

212-838-2560

http://www.societyillustrators.org

A Century of Stamps

January 10 - February 1, 2001

The United States Postal Service is issuing a blanquette of 20 stamps entitled, "A Century of American Illustration" in collaboration with the Society of Illustrators to honor the Society's 100th Anniversary. First day of issue will be on that date, February 1, 2001 -- the Society's 100th birthday.

The 20 illustrators being honored by the Postal Service will be exhibited at the Society of Illustrators Museum of American Illustration in original art, photo portraits, letters and other memorabilia. They include Dean Cornwell, Howard Pyle, James Montgomery Flagg, C. Coles Phillips, Alfred Parker, Jesse Willcox Smith, Norman Rockwell, Maxfield Parrish, Harvey Dunn, Rockwell Kent, Edwin Austin Abbey, Robert Fawcett, Joseph Christian Leyendecker Arthur Burdett Frost, Jon Whitcomb, Rose O'Niell, Neysa McMein, John Held, Jr. , Frederic Sackrider Remington, and Newell Convers Wyeth.

Rose O'Neill (1874-1944) was a self-trained artist who invented the Cupid-like, whimsical Kewpies in 1909 while illustrating for magazines. The Kewpies also appeared in advertisement, and today Kewpie dolls are still prized collector's items. O'Neill was also a talented sculptor, novelist, and poet. (left: Rose O'Neill (1874-1944), Kewpie with Kewpie Doodle Dog, date unknown)

Howard Pyle (1853-1922) earned his reputation as the "father of American illustration" by training a generation of influential artists at his highly selective school. Often illustrating t~is own stories. Pyle inspired readers with vivid depictions of history and legend. (right: Howard Pyle (1853-1922), An Attack on a Galleon, from the story "The Fate of a Treasure-Town" by Howard Pyle, Harper's Monthly Magazine, Dec. 1905, Delaware Art Museum, Wilmington, DE)

Please click on thumbnail images bordered by a red line to see enlargements.

For further biographical information on selected artists cited above please see America's Distinguished Artists, a national registry of historic artists.

This page was originally published in Resource Library Magazine. Please see Resource Library's Overview section for more information. rev. 5/23/11

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