8c XI Olympic Winter Games - Sapporo 1972 stamp

Four commemorative postage stamps saluting the Olympic Games were first placed on sale at Washington, DC, on August 17, 1972. There were four denominations - six cents, eight cents, eleven cents, and fifteen cents. The stamps were printed separately. Three of the stamps were for postal rates effective in the United States, Canada, and Mexico - six cents for post cards, eight cents for surface letters, and eleven cents for airmail. Fifteen cents was the surface letter rate and airmail post card rate beyond the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

In 1972 both the Winter and Summer Olympic Games were held in Sapporo, Japan, and Munich, Germany, respectively. This series commemorates both through the individual stamp designs.

The four stamps were designed by Lance Wyman. The 6-cent and 15-cent stamps were issued in sheets of fifty, with an initial printing of forty million. The 8-cent stamp was issued in sheets of fifty, with an initial printing of 135 million.

Reference: Postal Bulletin (June 22, 1972)

Scott Catalogue USA: 1461
mint

Museum ID: 1980.2493.58