Herb Robert Postage Stamp (American Wildflower Series, Botanical, Flower, Wedding, Pink) Vintage Unused USPS Postage 29c

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

STAMP INFORMATION:

• Name: Herb Robert, aka "Stinky Bob"
• Series: American Wildflower
• Year Issued: 1992
• Face Value: 29 cents each (USD)
• Topic(s): Botanical, Flowers, Wildflowers, State Flowers, Nature, Watercolor
• Color(s): Pink, Green, Black, Multicolored 
• Printing Method: Offset Lithography
• Adhesion Type: Gummed (see adhesion instructions below)
• Condition: Genuine Unused USPS Postage Stamps, Ready to Use for USPS Mailings, Mint Condition

STAMP HISTORY: The 29c Herb Robert postage stamp was a commemorative issue from the 1992 “American Wildflower" series, a pane of 50 different stamps celebrating endemic American flora. Its official first day of issue was July 24, 1992, with the stamp's debut held in Columbus, Ohio, to coincide with the AmeriFlora '92 International Floral and Garden Exposition. The stamp features a watercolor painting of the Herb Robert flower (Geranium robertianum), which was selected and illustrated by Alaskan artist Karen Mallary, who created the artwork for the entire series.

The Herb Robert flower, also known as "Stinky Bob," is a small, delicate wildflower with a distinctive appearance and smell. It produces small (about 1/2 inch wide), showy flowers with five petals. The petals are typically a bright rose-pink to magenta color, sometimes with white stripes. The flowers bloom in pairs and are held on slender stalks above the foliage, with the blooming season typically lasting from spring to fall. One of the most unique and notable characteristics of Herb Robert is the strong, pungent, or "musky" odor that the plant's leaves release when crushed. This smell is the source of its alternative name, "Stinky Bob".

STAMP MEANING & SPIRITUAL SIGNIFICANCE: The Herb Robert flower is tied to resilience, determination, and protection, with roots in European folklore that also connect it to good luck and fertility. Its delicate appearance belies a hardy nature, which is reflected in its symbolism. Herb Robert is known for its ability to grow and flourish in difficult places, such as rocky ground or shady corners. This quality makes it a symbol of perseverance and the enduring spirit needed to overcome challenges. Traditionally, the flower was carried as a charm for good luck and was believed to support fertility. In some European folklore, Herb Robert was seen as a protector against misfortune and evil, and cultivating it around a home was thought to offer spiritual protection. The flower's name may be linked to Robin Goodfellow, or Puck, a mischievous but helpful fairy spirit in English folklore. This association connects the flower to nature's wilder, more magical side and the belief that the plant is under a protective, mystical influence.

SERIES HISTORY: The 1992 American Wildflower postage stamp series was a commemorative issue featuring a pane of 50 different 29-cent stamps, with each stamp displaying a unique watercolor illustration of a native U.S. wildflower. The series was released on July 24, 1992, in Columbus, Ohio, to coincide with the AmeriFlora '92 international exposition. Alaska-based watercolor artist Karen Mallary designed the artwork and selected the 50 distinct flowers featured in the collection, with at least one stamp/flower representing each of the 50 states. The U.S. Postal Service described the 1992 American Wildflower series as carrying a message of "natural grace and beauty". In dedicating the pane of 50 different stamps, Assistant Postmaster General Gordon Morison stated they would "blanket the postal landscape" and carry the message that "our nation's wildflowers add natural grace and beauty to our lives". 

GUMMED STAMPS: These postage stamps have 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.

QUESTIONS? We love hearing from our customers and replies to inquires are usually answered the same day. Need more of this stamp? Looking for a particular stamp not found on our website? Want a curated postage set for your special event?  Contact us with questions about vintage postage stamps and our services… 

ABOUT HERITAGE POST HOUSE: Jennifer Kramer is the founder of Heritage Post House, a boutique vintage postage house located in Northern California. Jennifer sources the most beautiful unused vintage postage stamps ever issued by USPS and artfully arranges them into curated postage sets that are sure to add a special touch to your invitations, announcements, and special mailings. In addition to creating pre-arranged postage sets, Jennifer also works with couples (and their stationers) to create one-of-a-kind custom postage arrangements for wedding invitations, save the dates, and other special occasions.