US #5394b
2019 Ernie – Sesame Street

• Pictures Ernie
• One of 16 stamps issued to coincide with the 50th anniversary of Sesame Street

Stamp Category:  Commemorative
Set:  Sesame Street
Value:  55¢ First Class Mail Rate (Forever)
First Day of Issue:  June 22, 2019
First Day City:  Detroit, Michigan
Quantity Issued:  62,000,000
Printed by:  Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd.
Printing Method:  Offset
Format:  Panes of 16
Tagging:  Nonphosphored type III, block tag

Why the stamp was issued:  To commemorate the 50th anniversary of the beloved children’s television program, Sesame Street.

About the stamp designs:  Designed by art director Derry Noyes using an existing photograph of Ernie.

First Day City:  The First Day of Issue Ceremony was held in Lafayette Park in Detroit, Michigan, as part of the “Sesame Street Road Trip,” a celebration event held in 10 cities across the US.

About the Sesame Street set:  In 2019, Sesame Street – everyone’s favorite educational and playful children’s television show – celebrated its 50th anniversary.  To commemorate the occasion, the USPS issued 16 new Forever stamps picturing different characters from the show:  Big Bird, Ernie, Bert, Cookie Monster, Rosita, The Count, Oscar the Grouch, Abby Cadabby, Herry Monster, Julia, Guy Smiley, Snuffleupagus, Elmo, Telly, Grover, and Zoe.  The back of the pane of 16 pictures the official Sesame Street 50th anniversary artwork.

History the stamp represents:  Ernie has been a main character on Sesame Street since its premier in 1969.  He is mischievous, frequently playing practical jokes on his good buddy Bert.

Ernie is very imaginative and comes up with fun games to play.  Often, Ernie wants Bert (who is usually reading) to join in on his silly games.  After much convincing, Bert will grudgingly start to play along.  Just as soon as Bert really starts to enjoy himself, Ernie wants to stop playing and moves on to something else.

Besides singing and playing musical instruments, Ernie loves taking baths with his Rubber Duckie.  He sang to his duck in season one of Sesame Street.  “Rubber Duckie” became a hit single, reaching number 16 on the Billboard Hot 100, in the fall of 1970.

His free-spirited approach to successes and failures alike makes him one of Sesame Street’s most enduring and likable characters.  Together, Bert and Ernie model how to appreciate similarities and differences between friends, and understand others’ points of view.