U.S. stamp for first lady Barbara Bush to be issued June 10 at Kennebunkport, Maine

By Charles Snee

More than 122 years after the United States issued a postage stamp picturing Martha Washington, the first presidential first lady, the U.S. Postal Service will pay tribute to Barbara Bush (1925-2018), the wife of George H.W. Bush, the 41st president of the United States.

Bush served as first lady during her husband’s administration from 1989 to 1993. She was also the mother of George W. Bush, the 43rd president (2001-09).

An official first-day ceremony for the nondenominated (73¢) Barbara Bush forever commemorative stamp will be held June 10 at 11 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time at Ganny’s Garden on the River Green, 48 Ocean Ave., Kennebunkport, Maine. Kennebunkport is home to Walker’s Point Estate, the summer retreat of the Bush family.

Those wishing to attend are asked to register online with the USPS. Attendees may invite up to nine additional guests, according to the Postal Service.

The design of the stamp, which features a detail of the official White House oil-on-canvas portrait of Bush painted in 2005 by Charles Fagan, was unveiled May 8 in the East Room of the White House during a ceremony hosted by first lady Melania Trump.

In addition to Trump, the unveiling included Judy de Torok, USPS vice president of corporate affairs; George and Barbara Bush Foundation CEO Alice Yates; and Barbara and George H.W. Bush’s daughter, Dorothy “Doro” Bush Koch.

“We are deeply honored that the United States Postal Service is paying tribute to our mother with a commemorative Forever stamp,” Bush Koch said at the unveiling. “This special stamp serves as a lasting reminder of Barbara Bush’s enduring love for family and friends, sharp wit and unwavering commitment to solve the problems of today by ensuring that every man, woman and child has the opportunity to read, write and comprehend.”

According to production details published in the May 15 issue of the Postal Bulletin, Banknote Corporation printed a total of 10 million stamps that were finished into 500,000 panes of 20 that will be available for sale at post offices and other retail outlets authorized by the USPS to sell postage stamps.

Microprinting, a feature designed to thwart counterfeiting, appears somewhere in the design. In keeping with precedent, the microprinting likely will be “USPS.”

The pane features a header reading “BARBARA BUSH” and a plate number consisting of a B followed by four single digits in the bottom two corners. The B represents the printer, and each digit represents one of the four process colors used to print the stamp: cyan, magenta, yellow and black.

Derry Noyes, one of the Postal Service’s art directors, designed the Barbara Bush stamp. She shared with Linn’s Stamp News some of her experiences while working on the stamp, which included learning about her subject.

“I realized that I didn’t know much about Barbara Bush other than my own impressions,” Noyes said. “Having received the assignment, I spent time reading about her. First ladies rarely get attention for their contributions to the country. I’m pleased we were able to make this stamp in her honor.”

Noyes’ familiarity with Fagan’s painting of Bush influenced her approach to the design.

“Having seen the portrait of her in the White House Historical Association, I decided this really was the right tone for the stamp,” Noyes said. “She was clearly a strong influence on the President and had a sense of herself. This portrait exudes that quality with respect and dignity.”

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