THE WIZARD OF OZ ON COMMEMORATIVE STAMPS
by Michael Gessel
Originally published in The Baum Bugle, vol. 34, no. 1 (Winter 1990), pgs. 21–22
Citations
Chicago 17th ed.:
Gessel, Michael. “The Wizard of Oz on Commemorative Stamps.” Baum Bugle 34, no. 3 (1990): 21–22.
MLA 9th ed.:
Gessel, Michael. “The Wizard of Oz on Commemorative Stamps.” The Baum Bugle, vol. 34, no. 3, 1990, pp. 21–22.
(Note: In print, this article was supplemented with photographs that have not been reproduced here. However, typographical errors have been left in place to accurately reflect the printed version.)
In connection with the film’s fiftieth anniversary, the 1939 MGM version of The Wizard of Oz was honored with commemorative postage stamps from the United States and the West Indian nation of Montserrat.
The stamp issued by the United States Postal Service shows Judy Garland as Dorothy holding Toto with a background similar to the matte painting of the Emerald City used in the film.
The stamp was one of four “Classic Films” stamps which also included three other U.S. films from 1939 which earned Academy Award nominations fifty years ago: Gone With the Wind, Stagecoach, and Beau Geste.[1] The twenty-five-cent stamps were issued on March 23, 1990, in Hollywood.
The stamps received both praise and criticism. Mike O’Hara, a spokesman for the Postal Service, told The Baum Bugle, the issue “has been one of the best-selling stamps this year . . . if not the most. [then] one of the most popular stamps.” It has already sold out in some areas.
The Classic Films issue was voted fourth most popular of all 1990 U.S. stamps in a poll taken by Linn’s Stamp News of its readers. However, the poll also found the issue was voted overwhelmingly the “least necessary” of the year.
One collector wrote to Linn’s complaining, “With the advent of The Wizard of Oz and other movie stamps, I shall give up United States stamps, as I have those of the Sand Dune nations and other countries that specialized in frivolous issues.”
Another critic was consumer advocate Ralph Nader. In a November 13, 1989, letter to Postmaster General Anthony Frank, Nader said that issuing the stamps “amounts to a huge advertising campaign for the four movies,” which are generating private profits. The Postal Service denied the charge.
An article in the St. Joseph (Missouri) News Press / Gazette warned that Americans sending letters to servicemen in Saudi Arabia shouldn’t use the stamps because Garland’s face and head are uncovered, counter to Saudi Arabian religious custom.
The press run was 177 million for the issue, which was the third highest for a 1990 commemorative stamp. The stamp will be available only for a limited time and unsold stamps will be destroyed. The Postal Service has not yet decided the last sale date.
The block of four was designed by 34-year-old artist Thomas Blackshear of Novato, Caliifornia, who is known to Oz collectors through his designs for the Oz commemorative plates issued in 1989 by the Hamilton Collection. He has designed other U.S. stamps in the popular Black Heritage Series.
Other credits for the issue include: Derry Noyes, art director and typographer; Joe Brockert, project manager; and Dick Sennett, modeler.
The stamp may be still available through the philatelic centers of the main post office in major cities. For information on purchasing the stamp by mail, write for a catalog of current stamp issues from the Philatelic Sales Division, U. S. Postal Service, P.O. Box 449997, Kansas City, Missouri 64144-9997.
The Wizard of Oz stamp was prominent in a 32-page pamphlet issued by the U.S. Postal Service, “Introduction to Stamp Collection.” The front and back cover of the pamphlet contained a color drawing of Dorothy, the Scarecrow, Tin Man, and Lion approaching the Emerald City. The pamphlet also contained a brief account of the creation of the MGM film.
The stamp design is featured on a tee shirt made by ALTUF, a Norfolk, Virginia, company, under a license from the Postal Service. The shirt is made in assorted sizes and colors and is sold mostly at post offices.
Montserrat became the first country to honor The Wizard of Oz on a postage stamp when it issued a series of four different stamps and a souvenir sheet featuring actors from the MGM film.
Each stamp shows a different actor: the ninety-cent stamp shows Ray Bolger as the Scarecrow, the $1.15 stamp shows Bert Lahr as the Lion, the $1.50 stamp shows Jack Haley as the Tin Man, and the $3.550 stamp shows Judy Garland as Dorothy. The souvenir sheet, with a denomination of $5.00, shows two images: the four characters posed against the Yellow Brick Road, and the four about to enter the Poppy Field with the Emerald City in the background. All the stamps have the words, “50th Anniversary of The Wizard of Oz,” and show the fiftieth anniversary logo with Dorothy’s ruby slippers.
The stamp was issued September 22, 1989, and was licensed from Turner Home Entertainment, which owns the rights to the images. The stamps were designed by British artist Derek Miller and printed by Questa Security Printers of London.
The stamp was available for sale for one year and sold in the United States through D & G Philatelic Inc.. of West Hampstead, New York. A first day cover cachet envelope was also designed by Derek Miller and marketed through D & G Philatelic.
Another philatelic Oz development was the authorization of a pictorial hand cancel[2] by the U.S. Postal Service in connection with the 90th anniversary of the publication of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. The cancel had the words “90 Years of the Wonderful Wizard of Oz—First Published May 15th, 1900,”[3] “1990 Oz Fest May 12,” and “Oz Sta., Chittenango, New York 13037” It was issued on May 12, 1990, at Chittenango, New York, the birthplace of L. Frank Baum.
Notes
[1] Because four different stamps were printed on the same pane, it is considered a “se-tenant” issue.
[2] Pictorial cancels are special designs authorized by the U.S. Postal Service used to cancel stamps, usually for only one day and in connection with anniversaries or special events.
[3] The actual publication date of The Wizard was September 1, 1900. May 15 was the date the press work was completed.
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