With evocative names like Blazing Star, Touching Stars, and Starburst, stars are one of the most popular design motifs for American quilters.
Two non-denominated (25-cent) coil stamps designated for sending pre-sorted first-class mail are slated to be issued by the United States Postal Service (USPS) tomorrow in Washington, D.C. The issue includes two versions of one of those quilting favourites—the Lone Star pattern—alternating on self-adhesive coil rolls of 3,000 and 10,000 stamps (although the stamps are also available on panes of 25).
Each stamp shows a detail from a photograph of one of the two quilts highlighting the intricate work involved in creating the star design. As the name implies, the Lone Star design is one large star that covers the quilt top, created by stitching together many small diamond shaped pieces of fabric.
The Lone Star design has been known by several names, including the Mathematical Star, the Star of the East, and, among Native Americans, the Morning Star. The first dated example that carried the name “Lone Star” is inscribed “1835” and was made in Texas the year before the fall of the Alamo. The quilts featured in the stamp art were made by Amish quilt makers.
There is no first-day cover ceremony planned for this issue.