Asher B. Durand's "Kindred Spirits" Postage Stamps (Four Centuries of American Art Series, Waterfalls) Vintage Unused USPS Postage 32c

These vintage unused postage stamps will evoke a touch of whimsy and add personality to your mailings!

STAMP INFORMATION:

• Name: Asher B. Durand’s “Kindred Spirits”
• Series: Four Centuries Of American Art
• Year Issued: 1998
• Face Value: 32 cents each (USD)
• Topic(s): Fine Art, American Artists, Paintings, American Romanticism & Realism, Landscape, Nature, Wilderness, Waterfalls, Catskill Mountains
• Color(s): Multicolored, Green
• Printing Method: Photogravure
• Adhesion Type: Gummed
• Condition: Genuine Unused USPS Postage Stamps, Ready to Use for USPS Mailings, Mint Condition

STAMP HISTORY: This Asher B. Durand postage stamp was part of the Four Centuries of American Art series and features his famous painting "Kindred Spirits" (1849). The painting on this stamp depicts two figures—painter Thomas Cole and poet William Cullen Bryant—standing on a rocky ledge in the Catskill Mountains, surrounded by lush greenery, towering trees, and a flowing river. The landscape is rendered in the Hudson River School style, emphasizing romanticism, nature’s grandeur, and divine beauty in the American wilderness. The scene evokes a spiritual connection between art, literature, and nature, reflecting 19th-century transcendentalist ideals.

Asher B. Durand (1796–1886) was a leading figure in the Hudson River School, a movement that portrayed the American landscape as a place of divine inspiration and national pride. "Kindred Spirits" was painted as a tribute to Thomas Cole after his passing, honoring their shared appreciation for nature’s beauty. The painting symbolizes the unity between human creativity and the natural world, a key theme in both art and transcendentalist thought. This stamp honors Durand’s legacy and celebrates the deep spiritual and artistic connection between humans and nature, a core belief of the Hudson River School painters.

STAMP MEANING & SPIRITUAL SIGNIFICANCE: This Asher B. Durand postage stamp, featuring Kindred Spirits, carries deep spiritual significance rooted in themes of nature as divine, human connection, transcendence, and artistic legacy. The painting, a masterpiece of the Hudson River School, captures the American wilderness in a way that suggests the presence of the sacred. The vast, untouched landscape symbolizes God’s creation, harmony, and the sublime beauty of nature. This aligns with transcendentalist beliefs that nature is a gateway to spiritual enlightenment. The title itself conveys a deep, spiritual bond between souls—in this case, painter Thomas Cole and poet William Cullen Bryant. Their presence in the landscape suggests that art and poetry are inspired by divine forces and that true connection transcends the physical realm. The scene evokes a moment of meditation and reverence for the natural world. The figures stand in awe of their surroundings, symbolizing the soul’s longing for higher understanding and the importance of pausing to appreciate life’s greater mysteries. Durand painted Kindred Spirits as a tribute to his friend Thomas Cole after his passing. In this way, the artwork serves as a reminder that art, nature, and human relationships live on beyond the physical world, carrying eternal meaning and influence. Painters of this movement, including Durand, viewed nature as a temple of divine truth. Their landscapes were not just realistic depictions but also spiritual expressions of harmony, balance, and the presence of God in the natural world. The stamp, by immortalizing Durand’s work, acts as a symbol of the spiritual connection between humanity, art, and nature. It reminds us to seek inspiration in the world around us, cherish our connections, and recognize the divine presence in the beauty of creation.

SERIES HISTORY: The Four Centuries of American Art postage stamp series was issued by the United States Postal Service (USPS) on August 27, 1998 in Santa Clara, California, as a pane of 20 commemorative stamps, each with a face value of 32-cents, celebrating the rich history of American visual arts. The purpose of this landmark USPS release, celebrating 20 iconic works from colonial portraiture to modern Pop Art, was to honor the diversity and innovation of American artists across four centuries. This series showcases notable paintings and sculptures from the 17th through the 20th centuries, reflecting the evolution of artistic expression in the United States. Each stamp in this collection depicts a masterpiece from a different time period, spanning from the colonial era to modern American art. The selection includes portraits, landscapes, historical depictions, and abstract works, representing a wide range of artistic styles and movements. This series showcases the diversity of American art across different eras and styles, includes both traditional and avant-garde pieces, reflecting shifts in American society, and serves as a lasting teaching tool to introduce the public to significant American artists.

GUMMED STAMP: This postage stamp has a traditional moisture-activated gum on the back. These stamps require licking or wetting to adhere to envelopes or other surfaces. To ensure good adhesion, apply vintage gummed stamps to your mailings with a glue stick (we recommend using Elmer's "Re-Stick" glue sticks).

GENUINE USPS POSTAGE: These unused vintage postage stamps are perfectly valid for use as current postage for mailing with USPS as long as you use the adequate amount of postage to achieve standard postage rates according to the weight of your mailing. Check current postage rates at USPS.com.

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