Greetings From Iowa – Goldfinches & Wild Roses.

1987-2120-iowasign — *(P-0197)* ***Circa 1980’s – Welcome to Iowa!***

(S-0067) 1982 – State Birds & Flowers of the U.S. The story of these stamps actually begins in 1978, when Fleetwood – a popular first-day-cover stamp company – hired the father-and-son wildlife artists – Arthur and Alan Singer – to create some original paintings of birds and flowers for a set of Fleetwood covers. When U.S. Postal Service officials saw their work, they decided to issue this 50-stamp sheet showcasing the Singer’s watercolor paintings. The Singers labored for over a year on this beautiful philatelic masterpiece with Arthur creating the birds, while son Alan painted the flowers. Each stamp is unique – making it the first series of its size to feature original artwork for each different stamp. At the time of their issue, these stamps were the most popular commemoratives in U.S. Postal history.

1967FDC — (C-0161) **1982 Iowa State Bird & Flower from 50-stamp US Birds & Flowers Issue.** This stamp features a watercolor picturing an Eastern Goldfinch and a Wild Prairie Rose, Iowa’s state bird and flower. *(C-0162) (S-0048)*

1-WildRosePostcard — *(P-0171)* Below *(P-0172)* *(P-0320)*

(P-0169) *(P-0217)* *Celebrating our Two State Capitols: Iowa City: 1840-1857 and Des Moines: 1857-present.*

(S-0070) (S-0050) (C-0181) In 2002, the U.S. Postal Service picked up on this popular “Greetings” travel card theme and issued a set of 50 stamps with each one offering the familiar phrase from each state.

(S-0051) (C-0274) (C-0183) These commemoratives were very popular, so when postage rates changed mid-year, the 34¢ sheet, issued in April, was replaced with a 37¢ sheet in October. (P-0178) (C-0182)