Stamp Designs That Never Saw The Light Of Day
Over the years . . .
I have had the great privilege of being able to design and/or art direct over 500 issued U.S. postage stamps. Along the way each of us in that role also created many, many other stamp concepts which did not become issued stamps for various reasons. In some cases multiple possible design solutions were presented for discussion and consideration, and some other—often better—concept was chosen for issuance. In other cases it was eventually decided not to issue a stamp on the topic under consideration; sometimes a designed stamp that had been approved and put into the "bank" for possible future issuance was never issued for one reason or another. Fresh designs for certain subjects that were repeatedly needed were constantly being generated . . . the US flag, patriotic icons, Christmas and other holidays, etc.
Some of the alternate concepts which had been considered for stamps actually issued ("essays", in stamp collecting vernacular) were shown in a series of annual books, "Linn's U.S. Stamp Yearbook", from 1984-2010. This series is a valuable reference about the details of each issued stamp, but there was never enough space available to show all of the essays that had been considered.
In my experience, the designer / art director role varied from stamp to stamp. Often the designer created entirely new work, other times blocked out the concept and design and then hired an appropriate professional illustrator or photographer; and yet other times simply turned the project over to an outside designer. Sometimes existing artwork or photography was considered for a stamp design, sometimes existing art was dummied up as a stamp only to demonstrate the style of an artist being suggested.
It occurred to me that it might be of interest to those interested in stamps and stamp design to see some of my stamp "might have beens".
( "grey" dots at the bottom to be blind-embossed and thus "readable" )
Photographer: Sheaff
Photographer:
Artist: Dypold
Artist:
Engraver: Marshall
Engraver: Bureau of Engraving and Printing
Artist: James Flora
Photographer: Schlowsky Studio / Sheaff
Photographer: Dennis Cooper
Artist: David Frampton
( Engraved keepsake label, issued )
Artist: Lou Brooks
Marble bust by Jean-Antoine Houdin
Illustration: Edward Penfield
Photographer: Sheaff
Quilt artist: Margit Moraweitz
Photographer: Sheaff
Photographer:
Artist: Xavier Cugart
Artist: Dave LaFleur
Photographer: Peter Jones / Sheaff
Artist: Robert Brangwynne
Artist:
Artist: Rockwell Kent
Artist: Kenneth Ferguson
Artist: Hiro Kimura
T-Shirt design, for two stamps which were issued.
Illustrator: Jeff Nishinaka
Jewelry Artist:
Photographer:
Prestige booklet cover alternatives
Photopgrapher:
Artist:
Artisi: Dave LaFleur
Photographer: Ansel adams
Photograph: Sonny Ochs
( The Hale-Bopp comet )
Photographer:
Artist: Dave LaFleur
Illustrator: Thomas Nast
Artist; James Flora
Artist: David Frampton
Photographer: Sheaff
An essay created for a security printer
( Yes, I realize this cow is a Jersey; a suitable Guernsey image could not be located in time on this rush assignment. )
Artist: Michael Doret
Photographer: Sheaff
There are no known existing photographs of Cochise, but there are photographs of his two sons Naiche and Taza.
I made this image by superimposing straight-on photographs of both sons and blending them pretty much 50-50. Although the two look nothing alike, their facial features brought to the same scale match up almost 100%.
Perhaps this has produced a reasonable semblance of their father Cochise?
Photographer: Sheaff
Photographer: Sheaff
Photographer: Sheaff
Artist: James Flora
Two iron magnets superimposed. Photographer: Sheaff
Artist: James Thurber
Clicking on a thumbnail image opens a larger image . . .
Artist: