14c American Indian stamp

A figure identified simply as 'American Indian' appears on this 14-cent stamp—the first 14-cent stamp ever issued in the United States. Clair Aubrey Huston designed the stamp, which was inspired by De Lancey Gill's photograph of Hollow Horn Bear (1850-1913), a Brule Sioux. Gill took the photograph in March 1905 when Hollow Horn Bear was in Washington, D.C., for the inauguration of Theodore Roosevelt. The Smithsonian Institution now owns the photo. Louis Schofield engraved the die for the vignette. The frame was engraved by Frank Lamasure, Edward M. Hall, and Joachim C. Benzing.

The American Indian stamp, initially printed on the flat plate press, was placed on sale on May 1, 1923, both in Washington, D.C., and Muskogee, Oklahoma. It was subsequently printed on the Stickney rotary press.
Rod Juell
May 16, 2006

Scott Catalogue USA: 565
mint; perf 11

Museum ID: 1980.2493.2281