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Robert Millikan

Series: Great Americans

First Day of Issue Date: January 26, 1982

First Day of Issue Location: Pasadena, CA

About This Stamp

A 37-cent stamp honoring physicist Dr. Robert Millikan was issued January 26, 1982, in Pasadena, California. The First Day of Issue ceremony was held at the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, where Dr. Millikan was chairman of the executive council and director of its Norman Bridge Laboratory until his retirement in 1945.

Dr. Millikan made many significant contributions to the 20th-century revolution in Physics. He did original research on X-rays and, in 1923, he received a Nobel Prize for isolating the electron and measuring its electric charge. He was best known, however, for his research on cosmic rays, which he named.

The 37-cent denomination represented the new first-class postage rate for the first two ounces of mail, effective November 1, 1981.

Roy Anderson of Sedona, Arizona, designed the stamp. It was printed in the intaglio process and issued in panes of 100. Modeler was Ronald C. Sharpe; engravers were Joseph S. Creamer, Jr., (vignette) and Robert G. Culin, Sr. (lettering & numerals).

First Day of Issue Ceremony

First Day of Issue Date: January 26, 1982
First Day of Issue Location: Pasadena, CA

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