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 Postal
Service Unveils 2006 Commemorative Motorcycle Stamps
What do Baseball, Batman, Brooklyn's
Verrazano-Narrows Bridge, Hattie McDaniel and Harley Davidson
have in common? They're all just a sampling of American icons
that will be highlighted on 2006 Commemorative postage stamps,
the Postal Service announced today.
"Our 2006 program commemorates a wide range of diverse American
icons with something that will appeal to everyone," said
Postmaster General John E. Potter in describing stamps that will
honor Baseball sluggers, comic book heroes, the world's longest
bridge span, the first African-American to earn an Oscar and
America's love affair with motorcycles.
American Motorcycles
On Aug. 7, during the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in Sturgis, SD,
the role of motorcycles in American culture will be recognized
on four "American Motorcycles" stamps featuring digital
illustrations of a 1918 Cleveland, a 1940 Indian Four, a 1965
Harley-Davidson Electra-Glide, and a circa 1970 chopper. The
Cleveland, Indian and Harley-Davidson stamps are based on motorcycles
in existence today. The circa 1970 chopper featured on the stamp
was created by stamp artist Steve Buchanan in consultation with
professional chopper builders. Although lacking various safety
features such as mirrors and turn signals that are usually required
under today's laws, this chopper would have been street-legal
in 1970.
With the issuance of the American Motorcycles stamps, the U.S.
Postal Service recognizes the role of motorcycles in American
culture with four stamps that feature digital illustrations of
a 1918 Cleveland, a 1940 Indian Four, a 1965 Harley-Davidson
Electra-Glide, and a circa 1970 chopper.
Cleveland 1918
The single-cylinder Cleveland motorcycle depicted on this stamp
was built by the Cleveland Motorcycle Manufacturing Company of
Cleveland, Ohio.
Advertisements claimed that this motorcycle, which featured a
2.5-horspower, single-cylinder motor, could travel 75 miles on
a single gallon of gasoline and reach speeds of up to 35 to 40
miles per hour. Weighing around 150 pounds and selling for $175,
the Cleveland was both lightweight and affordable, making it
a popular motorcycle of its time.
The model for the "Cleveland 1918" stamp artwork is
a 1918 Cleveland A2 owned by Penny Nickerson of Long Island,
New York.
Indian 1940
The motorcycle depicted on this stamp was made by the Indian
Motorcycle Company. The 1940 entry in a series of deluxe, four-cylinder
motorcycles known as the Four, this streamlined bike featured
skirted fenders that partially covered the wheels, a controversial
design innovation that soon became an Indian trademark.
The model for the illustration featured on this stamp is a motorcycle
owned by Michael and Larry Spielfogel of New York City. It is
depicted in the deep red color often associated with Indian motorcycles.
Harley-Davidson 1965
With features such as whitewall tires, extensive chrome, large
fenders, and spacious fiberglass saddlebags, the Harley-Davidson
featured on this stamp is considered by many to be one of the
company's most iconic motorcycles. Known as the Electra-Glide,
this model was first manufactured in 1965, when its new features
included a push-button electric starter.
The model for the illustration featured on the Harley-Davidson
1965 stamp is a motorcycle owned by George Tsunis of Port Jefferson,
NY.
Chopper c.1970
The name "chopper" derives from the process of removing,
or "chopping," unnecessary or unwanted components from
a motorcycle. The term often indicates an extensively customized
motorcycle with such features as a stretched frame, stepped seat,
and raised handlebars. Typically, the frame has been stretched
with an extended-length fork leading to the front wheel.
Especially prominent during the 1960s and 1970s, choppers follow
in a tradition of earlier customized motorcycles that were known
as "bobbers" for their shortened, or bobbed, fenders.
The circa 1970 chopper featured on this stamp was invented by
the stamp artist in consultation with professional chopper builders.
Although lacking various safety features such as mirrors and
turn signals that are required today, this chopper would have
been legal to ride circa 1970.
The digital illustrations featured on the American Motorcycles
stamps were created by Steve Buchanan of Winsted, CT. The illustrations
are based on existing restored motorcycles, reference photographs,
and consultation with owners and experts; however, some colors
and design features have been altered for artistic purposes or
to maintain historical accuracy.
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