2004 37c Summer Olympics

U.S. #3863
2004 37¢ Summer Olympics
Issue Date: June 9, 2004
City: Philadelphia, PA
Quantity: 71,800,000
Printed By: Ashton-Potter (USA) Ltd
Printing Method: Lithographed
Perforations: Serpentine die cut 10 ¾
Color: Multicolored

This stamp was issued in 2004 to mark the games of the XXVIII Olympiad, held in Athens, Greece that summer. The first recorded Olympic Games took place in the Greek city of Olympia in 776 B.C., and they continued to be held every four years for nearly twelve centuries, beginning with a single footrace and gradually expanding to include events such as boxing, javelin, and discus. The return of the modern games to their birthplace in 2004 gave the occasion added significance, marking a full circle moment nearly three thousand years after the tradition first began.

The stamp art features a stylized depiction of a Greek runner, drawing inspiration from the artwork found on ancient Greek black figure vases. The main figure appears in black, with the same figure repeated in red both in front of and behind it, creating a sense of motion and speed. A classical meander, or key pattern, borders the top and bottom of the design, echoing decorative motifs common in ancient Greek art, while the Olympic rings appear near the bottom of the stamp. The phrase "XXVIII Olympiad" is microprinted above the runner's right foot, a subtle detail tying the artwork directly to that year's games.