1994 25th Anniversary of the First Moon Landing (Sheet of 12)

U.S. #2841
1994 25^th Anniversary of the First Moon Landing (Sheet of 12)

U.S. #2841, issued on July 20, 1994, commemorated the 25th anniversary of the Apollo 11 Moon Landing, honoring one of humanity's most significant achievements. Here are the details about this commemorative stamp:

• Stamp Category: Commemorative
• Value: 29¢
• First Day of Issue: July 20, 1994
• First Day City: Washington, DC
• Quantity Issued: 155,496,000
• Printed by: Printed for Stamp Venturers by J.W. Fergusson and Sons, processed and shipped at KCS Industries
• Printing Method: Photogravure (Champlain webfed gravure press)
• Format: Panes of 12 (Vertical 4 across, 3 down)
• Perforations: 11.1 (sheetfed stroke perforator)
• Tagging: Stamps are individually block tagged

Why the stamp was issued: The stamp was issued to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Apollo 11 Moon Landing, celebrating this historic event that marked the first time humans set foot on another celestial body.

About the stamp design: The artwork for this stamp, created by Paul and Christopher Calle, features a single astronaut saluting the American flag on the lunar surface. This design pays homage to the iconic moment captured during the Apollo 11 mission. The position of the Earth in the background was adjusted to be above the astronaut's head, and only a portion of the US flag is visible in the design.

Special design details: Due to a mistake by NASA, the Calles initially used a space suit that wasn't from the Apollo 11 mission in their artwork. Consequently, last-minute changes were made to the painting for both this stamp and the Apollo 11 Express Mail stamp. Additionally, there was some debate regarding the spacing between the American flag and the pole. Consulting NASA photographs of the flag on the Moon revealed conflicting images, some showing the flag touching the pole and others showing a gap. Ultimately, the decision was made to electronically "close the gap" between the flag and the pole in the stamp design.

First Day City: The stamp was unveiled alongside the Apollo 11 Express Mail stamp at a First Day of Issue Ceremony held at the Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC. Apollo 11 astronaut Buzz Aldrin made a surprise appearance at the event.

History the stamp represents: The stamp commemorates the historic Apollo 11 mission, which took place on July 20, 1969. This mission marked the culmination of years of effort and competition between the United States and the Soviet Union during the space race. Neil Armstrong's famous words, "That's one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind," echoed around the world as he became the first human to set foot on the Moon. The issuance of this stamp serves as a tribute to this monumental achievement in human exploration and scientific advancement.