Five cents John Kennedy facts for kids
The five cents John Kennedy is a special United States postage stamp. It was the very first stamp made to honor John F. Kennedy, who was the President of the United States. This stamp was released on May 29, 1964, which would have been his 47th birthday. The first stamps were officially marked in his hometown of Boston, Massachusetts.
Quick facts for kids 5 cents John Kennedy |
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| Country of production |  United States |
| Date of production | January–April 1964 |
| Designer | Raymond Loewy (Loewy/Snaith) |
| Dimensions | 40 mm × 25 mm (1.57 in × 0.98 in) |
| Perforation | 11 x 10 1/2 |
| Commemorates | John F. Kennedy |
| Depicts | John F. Kennedy and the Eternal Flame at Arlington National Cemetery |
| Face value | 5 cents |
Contents
What the Stamp Looks Like
This stamp is shaped like a horizontal rectangle. It has two main parts side-by-side. On the left, you can see the John F. Kennedy Eternal Flame. This flame burns forever at his burial site.
On the right side is a picture of President Kennedy. This portrait was based on a photo taken in 1958. Around the main design, there is text. This text includes a famous quote from Kennedy's 1961 speech: "... And the glow from that fire can truly light the world."
The stamp also shows Kennedy's full name and the years he was born and died. The words "U.S. POSTAGE" are written vertically in small letters. The stamp's value, "5 cents," is also part of the text frame. The entire stamp is a single blue-gray color.
Why This Stamp Was Made
President Kennedy was sadly assassinated in Dallas, Texas on November 22, 1963. Soon after, the United States Post Office Department decided to create a special stamp to honor him. They wanted to release it on his next birthday.
This was a very difficult task because they had only a few months. The stamp needed to be designed, approved by Kennedy's wife, Jacqueline Kennedy, and printed in huge numbers. They expected millions of people to want these stamps on the first day they were available.
Designing the Stamp
The first ideas for the stamp from the Bureau of Engraving and Printing were not approved. So, in early 1964, the Post Office decided to ask a famous design company called Loewy/Snaith for help. Raymond Loewy, the head of the firm, agreed to design the stamp. He took on the project more for his company's good name than for money. His firm was paid only $500, which was a very small amount for such a big job.
For the next three months, Loewy's designers worked hard on the stamp. To keep the design a secret, Loewy would lock all the papers and designs in his safe every day. He even put his fingerprint on them to show they were secure.
Finally, Mrs. Kennedy was shown the different designs. She chose the final design and also picked its color. She wanted a blue-gray color, similar to the color used inside Air Force One, the President's plane.
Another Story of the Stamp's Creation
There is another story about how the stamp was created. A writer named William Manchester wrote about it in his book The Death of a President. He said that right after the news of Kennedy's death, two designers at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing started drawing ideas for a memorial stamp.
Even though these were just quick sketches, they were very good. Just four days later, these drawings were given to the Postmaster General. These early sketches were then used for the stamp that was released the following spring.
See also
In Spanish: Cinco centavos John Kennedy para niños
