John Muir 1964 Postage Stamp

and First Day Covers

John Muir and Redwood Forest

Designed by Rudolph Wendelin. This 5 cent postage stamp was issued on April 29, 1964. Scott Number: 1245.

Background on the Stamp

• U.S. Information Service Press Release - March, 1964
• S.P.A. Journal article "John Muir" by Belmont Faries - Comprehensive background, with illustrations, about the design and making of the stamp.
• S.P.A. Journal letter to the editor (1965) by Edward N. Munns - relates the idea and lobbying for the commemorative stamp.
• Address by William M. McMillan, Assisant Postmaster General - a bit of "puffing" about Post Office success, but some interesting background on the Muir stamp.
• About the designer, Rudolph Wendelin

First Day Covers

The Mellone Specialized Cachet Catalog of First Day Covers (1960s, Vol, II), lists thirty-five different cachet designs. A complete listing of each of these First Day Covers, indicating the Mellone number and the cachet maker are provided in the listing below. (Non-Mellone-catalogued first day covers are provided at the end of this list.) The links contain scans with descriptions of most of these first day covers.

Cachets Not in Mellone Catalog

• A.O. Henry (1 of 2) Handpainted
• A.O. Henry (2 of 2) Handpainted
• Abe Lincoln Totem - Alaska
• B. Kraft Handpainted
• Mrs. W.M. Beck, Sr. Handpainted
• Cascade
• Griffith (3 of 3) (Muir portrait)
• John Muir Home
• John Muir Memorial Association - please send scan if you have this one
• John Muir Memorial Hospital - Concord, California
• Khol Kraft
• Marg
• Muir Bust and Portrait
• Powell Handpainted
• Preserve Our Forests - Keep America Green
• Rudolph Wendelin cachet - designed by stamp designer
• Faire and Henry Sax - please scan if you have this one
• Trees - The Roots of Life
• Unknown - Stylized Trees or Leaves

Combination Covers

• American Trees 1978 First Day Cover with 1964 Muir stamp and Cachet
• Artcraft with Four Conservation Stamps with 1964 John Muir Stamp
• Fleetwood - The Shapers of America - 1964 Muir stamp and cachet with 1986 Liberty stamp
• Cuv Evanson Cachets - 1964 Muir Stamp and Cachet with 2000 California Sesquicentennial stamp
• America the Beautiful 1989 Deer and Waterfall Postcard with 1964 John Muir Stamp
• Wonders of America - Tallest Trees 2006 - John Muir 1964 Combination First Day Cover

Event Covers

• Philatelic Tribute to America's Immigrants: John Muir 1966 Yosemite Anniversary Cover
• Trees 1978 First Day Cover with Muir Cachet
• Fleetwood California Heritage Eyewitness to History® Coin First Day Cover - featuring the John Muir - Yosemite 2005 California State Quarter, released January 31, 2005, and the 1964 Muir Stamp, the 1934 Yosemite Stamp, the 1969 California Settlement Stamp, and the 2003 California Statehood stamp

Please contact the harold.wood@sierraclub.org if you are aware of additional First Day Covers not listed here, or if you have any of the missing items from the Mellone catalog listing, for addition to this collection. Please e-mail your scan of the cover for inclusion, or if you do not have access to a scanner, please provide a color photocopy.

Other Philatelic Collectibles

• Bookmark with "Hitched" Quote
• Dedication Ceremony Program - includes schedule of events for the First Day of Issue ceremonies held in Martinez, California, on April 29, 1964.
• Post Office Poster - announcing first day of issue.
• First Day of Issue Maximum Card featuring Muir and several related park and forest conservation stamps.
• First Day of Issue Maximum Card featuring Muir biography
• Magnet with this stamp and Muir's "Clearest Way into the Universe" Quote
• John Muir Postage Stamp & California Quarter Collectible Sheet - Sequoia Natural History Association

John Muir was subsequently honored with a 32 cent postage stamp in 1998, which also has many First Day Covers.

Sources: Scott, 1987, Specialized Catalogs of U.S. Stamps
Mellone's specialized Cachet Catalog of First Day Covers (1960s, Vol, II)
American Philatelic Research Library

• 1998 John Muir Postage Stamp
• John Muir Stamps and Covers
• Return to John Muir Collectibles

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