About This Stamp
With this Art of Disney stamp pane, the U.S. Postal Service honors the theme of imagination as envisioned by Walt Disney and his studio animators.
Laughter, creativity, and dreams are imagination's children. No one knew that better than Walt Disney, the master of imagination who introduced us to new friends and brought us into new worlds. Today, his storytelling genius continues to inspire us to imagine, create, and dream.
Now, with the help from a few beloved Disney characters, it's easy to add an imaginative touch to your cards and letters with stamps that feature Mickey Mouse as Steamboat Willie; Princess Aurora and her helpers Flora, Fauna, and Merryweather from Sleeping Beauty; Pongo and one of his pups from 101 Dalmatians; and Mowgli and Baloo from The Jungle Book.
Walt Disney once said that Mickey was "created for the purposes of laughter." From the moment Walt first imagined him, Mickey has been a happy reminder that a little laughter goes a long way; it's hard to imagine the world without his familiar smile.
Everyone dreams of living "happily ever after," but not everyone has such enchanting helpers as Princess Aurora's tiny guardians, Flora, Fauna, and Merryweather. Despite their delightfully dithery ways, the good fairies protect the princess and help her find the true love she has always imagined.
Imagining a dog's emotional life requires a brilliant creative leap, but 101 Dalmatians gives us a unique dog's eye view of the world. In the loving bonds between Pongo and his pups, we see our own human ties brought to life — spot on.
Who could imagine a jungle as jazzy as in The Jungle Book — or a more free-wheeling, upbeat buddy than Baloo? His lighthearted relationship with Mowgli reminds us that friendship and laughter really are among the "bare necessities of life."
This is the fifth stamp pane in the Art of Disney series. Friendship, the first in the series, was issued in 2004. The second, Celebration, was issued in 2005. Romance was issued in 2006, and Magic was issued in 2007.
Disney Materials © Disney
Art Director
Terrence W. McCaffrey
Terrence W. McCaffrey attended the Corcoran School of Art, majoring in graphic design. Prior to joining the U.S. Postal Service®, he was employed by a Bethesda-based computer firm, where he advanced from intern designer to Assistant Art Director.
McCaffrey joined the Post Office Department in 1970 as a designer in the Communications Department. His original duties included redesigning the employee magazine and all other corporate materials to reflect the new corporate identity that came into effect in 1971 when the Department became the U.S. Postal Service.
Over the next 20 years McCaffrey was responsible for the design of more than 300 lobby posters; promotional material for various services such as Express Mail and Priority Mail™; employee magazines, newsletters, and slide shows; and philatelic products.
In 1990, McCaffrey joined Stamp Services as a member of the stamp design team, also assuming responsibility for the design of all philatelic products. In 1992, he was named Creative Director for the Stamp Design group, with responsibility for all stamp and stationery design. McCaffrey was appointed Manager of the Stamp Development group in 2000. Among his responsibilities were stamp subject and design development, rights of publicity, philatelic products, the USA Philatelic catalog, the philatelic archives, and overseeing the Citizens’ Stamp Advisory Committee.
During his long and productive career at the Postal Service™, McCaffrey served as art director for more than three-dozen issuances. He personally designed a number of U.S. postage stamps, including the Mars Pathfinder Souvenir Sheet; Raphael Cherubs (Love Series); the $2.90 Priority Mail Eagle; the $9.95 Express Mail Eagle; Interphil 76; Energy Conservation and Development; and Happy Birthday. He also co-designed the 15-stamp Star Wars issuance, five Art of Disney issuances, and the Send a Hello and Mail a Smile issuances.
McCaffrey retired in December 2010. He lives in New Braunfels, Texas.