The Postal Service’s latest Literary Arts stamp was dedicated during a local ceremony on Aug. 21.
The 35th stamp in the Literary Arts series honors Sarah Orne Jewett (1849-1909), a foundational figure in American literary regionalism who published hundreds of short stories and 18 novels, as well as poetry and essays.
“This stamp is more than a tribute ― it’s an invitation to revisit Jewett’s writing and share a piece of literary history every time we send a letter” said Matthew Kirksey, the local postmaster who spoke at the ceremony at the Sarah Orne Jewett House in South Berwick, ME.
Jewett lived in South Berwick her entire life and drew on the town and its people to portray New England characters and culture.
Her best-known work, the critically acclaimed 1896 novel “The Country of the Pointed Firs,” has come to be seen as an American literary masterpiece.
After a 1902 accident ended her writing career, she continued to mentor younger writers, notably Willa Cather, whom USPS honored with a stamp in 1973. Jewett’s strong female characters have led to renewed interest in her work.
The stamp features an original portrait of the author with the Maine coast as background and a ray of sunshine, evoking a scene from her most famous work.
Illustrator Mark Summers based the artwork on an 1894 photograph. The stamp was designed by Ethel Kessler, an art director for USPS.
The 3-ounce stamp is available in panes of 20 at Post Offices and on usps.com.
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