About This Stamp
The Pumpkinseed Sunfish definitive stamp was issued on December 2, 1992, to pay the second half-ounce weight for international airmail, as well as the one-ounce rate to Mexico.
Michael R. Matherly designed the stamp, which was printed in black, cyan, magenta, and yellow by Stamp Venturers on a six-color Heidelberg sheetfed press at The Press, Inc., and in black on a T.A. sheetfed intaglio press at Stamp Venturers. The stamp was distributed in panes of one hundred, ten down and ten across. Offset printing plates and intaglio printing plates each contained four hundred subjects. It was perforated 11 on an L-perforator. “©United States/Postal Service 1991.” and “Use Correct/Zip Code ®.” are printed in the selvage. One intaglio sleeve number preceded by the letter ‘S’ and one group of four offset plate numbers appear adjacent to the corner stamps.
The pumpkinseed (Lepomis gibbosus) is a species of freshwater fish that is native to northeastern North America, from New Brunswick to South Carolina. It has been introduced elsewhere in North America as well as throughout much of Europe.
Pumpkinseed sunfish reach a maximum overall length of about 16 inches, although sizes of six–eight inches are more typical. It normally weighs less than one pound. The fish presents an oval silhouette and is very narrow laterally. Its common name is a reference to its body shape, resembling the seed of a pumpkin. Its coloration includes (orange, green, yellow, or blue) speckles on the olive back and sides with a yellow-to-orange belly and breast. It has sharp spines, and care must be taken in handling it.