Description:
A day at the beach is one of summer’s greatest pleasures — and now four new stamps from the U.S. Postal Service let you send a little seaside charm through the mail. Issued in booklets of 20, these stamps celebrate the simple joys of a coastal escape.
For millions of Americans, the beach is the ultimate escape — where the biggest decision of the day might be whether to take a dip or just let the waves wash over your feet. Sandcastle engineers sculpt their masterpieces, beachcombers hunt for sea glass, and bird-watchers enjoy front-row seats to a show of swooping seagulls. Cyclists glide along the boardwalk, the salt air rushing past as they take in the view. No matter how you spend your time by the shore, the memories last long after you’ve shaken the sand from your shoes.
Art director Derry Noyes says these stamps were inspired by her annual summertime trips to beaches in New England. “These little snapshots are reminiscent of those experiences,” she says, “a break from busy lives and demands throughout the year.”
Noyes says she was drawn to the vitality and “fresh, bold, spontaneity” that Gregory Manchess brings to the oil on board art. “He captures the essence of the subject, even at a very small scale,” she says. “Greg has managed to make these scenes instantly recognizable with just the right amount of visual information.”
Art director Derry Noyes designed the stamps with original art by Gregory Manchess.