| Name | Value |
|---|---|
| Date of Issue | April 7, 2015 |
| Year | 2015 |
| Quantity | 84,000,000 |
| Denomination |
First-Class Mail Forever
|
| Denomination Value | $0.49 |
| Perforation or Dimension | 1.56 x 0.98 in./39.62 x 24.89 mm |
| Issue Location | Washington, DC 20066 |
| Postal Administration | United States |
On April 7, 2015, in Washington, DC, the U.S. Postal Service® will issue the Maya Angelou First-Class Mail® stamp (Forever® priced at 49 cents) in one design, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) pane of 12 stamps. The stamp will go on sale nationwide April 7, 2015.
Author, poet, actress, and champion of civil rights Dr. Maya Angelou (1928-2014) was one of the most dynamic voices in all of 20th-century American literature. The book I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, an autobiographical account of her childhood, gained wide acclaim for its vivid depiction of African-American life in the South.
The stamp showcases artist Ross Rossin's 2013 portrait of Dr. Angelou. The oil-on-canvas painting is part of the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery's collection. In the bottom left corner is the following phrase quoted by Dr. Angelou: “A bird doesn't sing because it has an answer, it sings because it has a song.” Above the quotation is her name in black type. The words “Forever” and “USA” are along the right side.
The bright red-colored sheet also includes a short excerpt from Dr. Angelou’s book Letter to My Daughter. It reads: “Try to be a rainbow in someone’s cloud.”
Art director Ethel Kessler designed the stamp.
The Maya Angelou stamp is being issued as a Forever® stamp in self-adhesive sheets of 12. Forever stamps are always equal in value to the current First-Class Mail® one-ounce price.