Adopted on July 4, 1776, the Declaration of Independence did more than announce the birth of a nation: by affirming that government derives its power from the consent of the governed, it set out ideals that have guided the country for two and a half centuries. For this anniversary issue, art director Greg Breeding wanted to avoid the familiar parchment and historic paintings. “I knew it would be difficult to bring something fresh to such a venerated subject,” he says, so he turned to designer and typographer Juan Carlos Pagan, and together they focused on the year itself. Each numeral doubles as a feather quill, recalling the signing of the document. Set against a deep blue ground, the red, white and light blue sequence nods to the flag while feeling decidedly contemporary.
The result is a stamp that honours the past while speaking to the future. One date, and everything behind it.
PERFECT FOR: Fourth of July mail, gifts for history teachers and reenactors, journal pages, framed desk pieces, and correspondence that deserves a little gravitas.
