The Art of Disney Series
On June 23, 2004, the USPS issued the first stamps in its Art of Disney Series.
Disney had previously been featured on two US stamps. One in 1968, honored Walt Disney himself. Another was issued in 1998 as part of the Celebrate the Century Series, which pictured a scene from Snow White. It was honoring the film because it was the nation’s first feature-length animated film.
In 2004, the USPS worked with Walt Disney artists to create the first stamps in the Art of Disney Series. The set would include the first US stamp to picture Mickey Mouse, even though many other nations had issued Disney and Mickey stamps before. The first set in the series was dubbed the Art of Disney: Friendship, and featured some of Disney’s enduring friendships.
The stamps were issued on June 23, 2004, at Disneyland in Anaheim, California. The first-day ceremony was held in front of the park’s Sleeping Beauty Castle and was attended by the postmaster general and Disney’s CEO, Michael Eisener. The postmaster said that with these stamps, “we get the chance to capture the spirit of friendship as it appears in the art, the imagination and the creative tradition of Walt Disney.” Eisner then noted that it was a rare honor for Disney to be featured on our stamps and that he was “pleased that millions will have the chance to brighten their correspondence with Mickey Mouse, Goofy, Donald Duck, and other Disney friends.”
The series continued in 2005 with the Art of Disney: Celebration stamps. Each stamp pictured Disney characters celebrating together. They were issued on June 30, again at Disneyland in Anaheim, California. These stamps also celebrated the 50th anniversary of Disney’s theme parks.
The third set in the series honored romance and was issued on April 21, 2006. Each of the stamps pictured one of Disney’s famous couples. The stamps were issued in Orlando as part of the 13th annual Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival at Disney World.
In 2007, the series continued with the Art of Disney: Magic. Each of the stamps features magical characters or magical moments from Disney history. The stamps were issued on August 16, 2007, at the American Gardens Theater at Walt Disney World in Orlando.
The final set in the series was issued on August 7, 2008. Titled The Art of Disney: Imagination, these stamps specifically honored Walt Disney. All of the characters pictured are from films he touched with his creative vision. The stamps were issued at Disneyland Resort in Anaheim.
Though not part of the Art of Disney Series, the USPS issued a few more stamps in the years to come that featured Disney characters.
Click here to view more Disney stamps.
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I was never much of a Disney fanatic, but the stamps were pretty cool. It made for a nice series of issues.
I was surprised that the USPS recognized this commercial endeavor and so late in their life. Cartoons have always portrayed a subtle message generally one of character. As a child I never watched a cartoon that did not have some classical music laced into it. Can’t say that they are conveying that message to our children today. It would be nice for today’s children to know what was going on in History when the cartoon was produced. They probably wouldn’t understand but I thank Mystic for bring back those memories.
Cartoons of the past portrayed subjects relevent to the time: good vs evil, love, honor, heroism; there was a war going on when many of the classics were made. Bugs Bunny and crew sold war bonds and sent messages about rationing and other propaganda. Todays comics have many of the same themes with subjects relevent for today thrown in: gender equality, the destruction of the environment. Some subjects were controversial then and some are today. The early ones are also pretty violent by todays standards, the politically correct nazis put an end to that. They seem bent on the destruction of the truth. Nevertheless, cartoons, Sesame Street and the like are important, even today, in influencing the character of a child, like it or not.