About This Stamp
The stamp is a salute to the Mexican holiday Cinco de Mayo. The origins of Cinco de Mayo date back to Mexico's victory over French invaders at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862. In the United States, Cinco de Mayo celebrations symbolize national self-determination for Mexican-Americans and solidarity within the Latin-American community. This stamp was the third addition to the Holiday Celebrations Series, begun in 1996 to reflect a different cultural or ethnic holiday each year.
Designed by Carl Herrman of Laguna Niguel, California, and illustrated by Robert Rodriquez of Pasadena, California, the stamp was printed by Stamp Venturers, Inc. in the gravure process and issued in self-adhesive panes of 20.
Stamp Art Director
Carl T. Herrman
As an art director for the U.S. Postal Service® for more than 15 years, Carl T. Herrman designed more than 50 stamps and guided more than 250 stamp projects, including Marilyn Monroe, James Dean, Humphrey Bogart, and Comic Strip Classics. He also served as art director for five of the Celebrate the Century stamp panes. He has won more than 260 awards for design and design management, including two gold medals from the Society of Illustrators.
Herrman’s career has included positions as Director of Creative Services and adjunct professor at the University of North Florida in Jacksonville, and Director of Marketing and Publications for the University of California at Irvine. He has provided consulting services for the Smithsonian Institution, the National Trust for Historic Preservation, and numerous academic institutions. Herrman lives in Carlsbad,California.