U.S. #3053
1996 20¢ Blue Jay Coil
Flora and Fauna Series
Issue Date: August 2, 1996
City: St. Louis, Missouri
Quantity: 330,000,000
Printed By: Stamp Venturers
Printing Method: Photogravure
Perforations: die cut
Color: Multicolored
In 1995, the first version of this stamp was issued just three days after the USPS proposed a rate increase of one cent for the postcard rate. This stamp paid the new 20-cent postcard rate. Robert Giusti, who also created the artwork for the 29-cent Wild Animals booklet stamps of 1992, the 30-cent Cardinal stamp of 1991, and the 29-cent Wood Duck booklet stamps of 1991-93, is credited with creating the stamp's attractive design.
This was the first self-adhesive postcard-rate stamp and was issued in both booklet and coil format.