Art of the Skateboard Stamps & Stickers
The USPS has a set of Forever Stamps called Art of the Skateboard and set vinyl skateboard stickers that match the stamp designs. This stamp series might have been better off served with a different title as the “Art Of the Skateboard” typically brings to mind the history of production graphics rather than brand new art stuck on the bottom of the skateboard for the sake of art. So maybe “Art On Skateboards” instead of “Art Of The Skateboard.” It’s nit picky for sure, but you are reading this on a web site devoted to skateboarding and popular culture… How did I find out about it? Obviously, by reading the Winter 2023 issue of the official USPS magazine Philatelic. I’ll save you the trouble of looking it up: the collection and study of postage and imprinted stamps. I had a rant locked and loaded about my thoughts on the artistic merits of these stamps and how they looked a little clip art-ish. Then I found out that at least one of them was designed by Navajo artist Di’Orr Greenwood, who is indeed a skateboarder herself. From the Navajo-Hopi Observer: “Greenwood said the opportunity to have her art showcased nationwide is important not only for her but for her community and other Native people.” And so now I am shutting myself up, and hopefully saving some of our readers with very strong skateboarding/art opinions from the opportunity of putting their own feet in their mouths.
I will say however, that the USPS has lost their collective minds if they think they can justify the $14 price of the set of 4 skateboard/laptop stickers. I’m almost positive that the USPS has dabbled in skateboarding themed stamps before. I can sort of picture it in my head and have a vague idea of what box it might be in (in storage) and assumed I had posted about it before, but all I could find was a recalled set that never got released.
Here’s the page from Vol 28, Qt 4 of Philatelic magazine Catalog.
You can find more photos and info about the other artists on the USPS page dedicated to this set.
