Today in Albuquerque, New Mexico, the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) will issue its “Delicioso” Forever stamps with six 49-cent designs in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) booklet of 20 stamps.
With this latest release, the USPS celebrates the influence of Central and South American, Mexican, and Caribbean foods and flavours on American cuisine. This book of 20 stamps features six dishes from an array of Latin American culinary traditions that have found new life and variations in the U.S.
BRIGHT DESIGN
The Delicioso stamps feature bright and playful illustrations of tamales, flan, sancocho, empanadas, chile relleno, and ceviche. The books include four of the tamales and flan designs and three of each of the other designs. The names of the six dishes appear in a festive font above each mouthwatering image. Each illustration was created by applying multiple layers of acrylic paint to textured boards, using sandpaper to reveal the hidden layers and give the designs a worn, vintage look.
As unique as the many cultures these dishes represent, every one of these foods vary in preparation and consumption based on who makes and eats them. While ingredients and cooking methods depend on location and availability, the feelings associated with a comforting meal transcend all boundaries and variations.
Artist John Parra designed the stamp artwork under the direction of Antonio Alcalá. A total of 200,000,000 Delicioso stamps will be printed by the Banknote Corporation of America.
The Delicioso stamps are being issued as Forever stamps, which are always equal in value to the current U.S. one-ounce price.