Who is pictured on the 1952 3¢ stamp honoring 50 years of 4-H clubs?

U.S. Stamp Notes — By John M. Hotchner

A 3¢ commemorative stamp was issued Jan. 15, 1952, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the 4-H club movement (Scott 1005). The four Hs stand for “head, heart, hands and health.”

Shown nearby is a plate block of the stamp signed by the designer, Charles Chickering; the engraver of the picture, Matthew Fenton; and the engraver of the lettering, John Edmondson.

Also pictured with this column is a preliminary photo essay of the stamp. The essay it is quite close to the final version; several of the features have been strengthened, and “the 4-H clubs” under the four-leaf clover has been given a white margin.

The essay is handstamped “Approved” on the reverse.

What interests me most about the stamp’s design are the images of the teenage boy and girl. They are modeled from the painting shown nearby, which had been used on a 4-H club poster.

I believe that the teenagers were painted either from real life or from a photograph, but their identity — if known — has never been revealed.

In keeping with the Post Office Department’s practice at the time, the designer undoubtedly was instructed to alter the images so that no one could claim that they were pictured on the stamp.

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Compared to the painting, the young man shown on the stamp no longer looks at the girl, his tie is straight, and his hair has been changed. The facial features of both young people have been altered, especially those of the boy.

If a Linn’s reader can provide the missing puzzle pieces, please contact me shoot me an e-mail, or PO Box 1125, Falls Church, VA 22041-0125.