1974 10c The Legend of Sleepy Hollow

U.S. #1548
1974 10¢ Legend of Sleepy Hollow

Issue Date: October 12, 1974
City: North Tarrytown, New York
Quantity: 157,270,000

Printed By: Bureau of Engraving and Printing

Printing Method: Lithographed, engraved

Perforations: 11

Color: Dark blue, black, orange, and yellow

This stamp was issued just in time for use on Halloween mail. The stamp pictures a scene from Washington Irving's famous folk tale, "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow," in which poor Ichabod Crane, the timid schoolteacher, is being chased by the dreaded Headless Horseman.

Take a look at the full sheet of these stamps - you'll see Mr. ZIP in the selvage.

Mr. ZIP is one of the most recognizable - and nostalgic - figures in modern U.S. postal history. Introduced in 1964, he was created to promote the newly adopted ZIP Code system and help Americans adjust to a faster, more efficient way of sorting and delivering mail. With his cartoon style and upbeat personality, Mr. ZIP appeared everywhere from posters and pamphlets to post office signage, becoming a familiar face during a period of major change at the Post Office.

What makes this sheet especially interesting is Mr. ZIP is standing upright in the selvage, rather than showing carrying a mailbag or waving.  Selvage elements like this were never meant to be the focus of a stamp issue, they were typically added to serve a purpose.  

Sheets that include intact, clearly printed Mr. ZIP figures in the margins are particularly interesting because the selvage was often trimmed away when sheets were separated or mounted.  When preserved, these details add visual interest that goes beyond the stamp design itself. They turn a standard sheet into a small snapshot of postal history, capturing not just the artwork, but the story of how Americans were encouraged to use the mail more efficiently.

In short, this sheet stands out not only for its stamp design, but for the way it preserves Mr. ZIP.  For collectors who appreciate postal history, design details, and the charm of mid-century postal promotion, sheets like this offer something extra that the single stamp alone can’t provide.