United States Six Cent Postage Stamp Sheet of Nez Perce Warrior Chief Joseph [SOLD]

The United States 6-cent stamp portraying Chief Joseph, the great Nez Perce warrior, was first placed on sale at Washington, D.C., on November 4, 1968, as a tribute to Indian heritage and to mark the opening of the National Portrait Gallery.  It is the first United States stamp to feature a Native American.

Born in Oregon about 1840 as Hin mah too yah kekht (Thunder Rolling down the Mountain), Chief Joseph led the Nez Perce in their fight against removal to a reservation by the federal government.  After a valiant fight, Chief Joseph surrendered on October 5, 1877, with the immortal words, “I am tired of fighting.  Our chiefs are killed. The old men are all dead . . . From where the sun now stands, I will fight no more forever.”  After his surrender, Chief Joseph was taken to Fort Leavenworth as a prisoner, where in 1878 his portrait was painted by Cyrenius Hall.  The 22 x 18 inch oil painting is in the collection of the National Portrait Gallery in Washington, DC. Chief Joseph died in 1904 on the Colville Reservation in the state of Washington.

This five-color stamp required three passes through the presses: two by offset ond one by Giori.  For the flesh tones, red and yellow were laid on by offset, followed by brown and intaglio. The warrior’s hair was printed black by intaglio, with blue tones by offset.  Robert J. Jones of the Bureau of Engraving and Printing designed the stamp. Calligraphy was by Crimilda Pontes of Washington, DC. The stamp was issued in panes of 50, with an initial printing of 120 million.

Reference: Arago People, Postage and The Post, Philately