HUTCHINSON – Kansas Gov. Mark Parkinson Friday gave Kansans their first look at the artwork for a new postage stamp to be issued next year in celebration of Kansas’ sesquicentennial. Parkinson joined Postal Service Executive Director of Stamp Services David Failor in unveiling the stamp design at the Hutchinson/Reno County Chamber of Commerce Membership Breakfast at the Kansas State Fair.
The Kansas Statehood Stamp features an old metal windmill in the foreground while five modern wind turbines stand in the background, signaling the forward-looking nature of the modern Kansas economy. A golden band suggests the undulating plains of western Kansas and implying statewide prosperity in agriculture, while a green band hints at the forests and hills of eastern Kansas.
"Kansas has a rich history from the last 150 years and is destined for an even brighter future," said Gov. Parkinson. "I am pleased to help unveil this commemorative stamp which captures both our lasting traditions and our exciting potential as we celebrate the Kansas Sesquicentennial."
"We expect this beautiful stamp to be extremely popular when it goes on sale in late January of next year," said Failor. "Celebrating 150 years of Kansas history is an excellent addition to our program."
The stamp, which commemorates the 150th Anniversary of Kansas statehood, features artwork by renowned commercial and fine-art painter Dean Mitchell. The stamp is a symbolic artistic snapshot of Kansas that encapsulates many of the state’s most prominent features, including history, industry, agriculture, and pioneering ingenuity. Dean Mitchell has connections to Kansas as he once lived in Overland Park, Kansas, and was an illustrator for Hallmark.
According to the Kansas State Historical Society, as many as 50 companies are known to have manufactured windmills in Kansas between 1880 and the mid-1950s. The role of the development of the state was vital; They pumped water from underground for the benefit of railroads, farmers, ranchers, and residents of small towns.
The Kansas Statehood Stamp will officially debut at an event at the State Capitol in Topeka.
