SYD KRONISH | Stamps New issues honor artist Cassatt

The works of Mary Stevenson Cassatt have caught the eye of a multitude of art lovers for more than a century.
Cassatt, recognized as one of the pre-eminent American artists of the 19th century, will be honored with the issuance of four new 37-cent U.S. stamps for release in August. The U.S. Postal Service says the stamps are part of the American Treasures series.
The four works of art by Cassatt appearing on the stamps are: "Young Mother" (1888) on display at The Art Institute of Chicago; "Children Playing on the Beach" (1884) on display at The National Gallery of Art in Washington; "On a Balcony" (1878) displayed at The Art Institute of Chicago; and "Child in a Straw Hat" (1886), also viewable at Washington's National Gallery of Art. The four designs are repeated five times each in the booklet of 20 stamps.
Born in Pennsylvania
Cassatt was born May 22, 1844, in Allegheny City, Pa., now part of Pittsburgh. She attended the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts in Philadelphia and continued her studies in Europe. She settled permanently in Paris in the mid-1870s at the invitation of Edgar Degas, who became her friend and mentor. Thus Cassatt joined the circle of revolutionary French painters known as the Impressionists.
Cassatt was known especially for her figure studies and engaging portrayals of mothers and children. She was the only American ever invited to exhibit with the French Impressionists -- a true tribute to her innovative style and theme portrayals. She died in France on June 14, 1926.
The American Treasures series, says the USPS, is intended to showcase beautiful works of American fine arts and crafts. The first in the series was the Amish Quilts stamp pane in 2001. The 2002 set featured artwork by John James Audubon.
Cassatt is not new to the U.S. stamp scene. The Postal Service has twice paid tribute to Cassatt before. The first stamp was issued in 1966 and featured her painting "The Boating Party" (1894). The second featured a portrait of Cassatt which was issued in 1988 as part of the Great Americans series. Her painting "Breakfast in Bed" (1897) was included in the Four Centuries of American Art stamp pane issued in 1998.
The first-day-of-issue ceremonies of the four Cassatt stamps will be held Aug. 7 at the American Philatelic Society Stamp Show at the Columbus, Ohio, Convention Center. First-day-of -issue postmarks can be obtained from the Stamp Fulfillment Service by calling (800) STAMP-24.
Catalog
Volume 2 of the 2004 Scott Postage Stamp Catalogue, containing countries of the world (C-F) is available to collectors.
The European market is showing a lot of activity in stamps with a Europa theme. There are significant price increases in some countries, including Denmark.
The stamps of classic China, Taiwan And the People's Republic of China, however, have experienced considerable decreases.
The cover price for Volume 2 is $49.99. The CD-ROM price is the same.
For information, contact your local dealer or call Scott Catalogues at (800) 572-6885.