22c Girl Scouts Achievement Badges stamp

The 75th anniversary of the Girl Scouts became the subject of a commemorative stamp issued on March 12, 1987, in Washington, DC. The design features fourteen Girl Scout badges on a green background, the color of the sash on which they are worn.

Juliette Gordon Low founded the Girl Scouts in Savannah, Georgia, in 1912, having borrowed the concept from the Girl Guides movement in England. Today, Girl Scouts of the USA is one of the largest voluntary organizations for girls in the world, providing them with the opportunity to develop their potential, to make friends, and to become a vital part of their communities.

Scouts participate in five program levels: Daisy Girl Scouts (age 5-6), Brownie Girl Scouts (ages 6-8), Junior Girl Scouts (ages 8-11), Cadette Girl Scouts (ages 11-14), and Senior Girl Scouts (ages 14-17). While the importance of values, skills, and self-confidence remain basic themes in each program, activities also evolved over the years to keep pace with changing interests. Career preparation is now a central aspect of scouting for older girls. In 1985, a new program — Daisy Girl Scouts — recognized the fact that five-year-old girls are much more sophisticated than their predecessors.

Designed by Richard D. Sheaff, the stamps were printed in the offset/intaglio process and issued in panes of fifty.

Reference: Postal Bulletin (March 5, 1987)

Scott Catalogue USA: 2251
mint

Copyright United States Postal Service. All rights reserved.

Museum ID: 1999.2004.697