Indiana Postage Stamps | State Bird and Flower Issue | Cardinal & Peony | Vintage Unused USPS Postage 20c

Add classic Midwest beauty and Indiana charm to your letters with these vintage unused “Indiana State Bird and Flower” postage stamps! This colorful commemorative design is perfect for adding cardinal imagery, lush peony detail, regional history, garden-inspired elegance, and Hoosier State character to save-the-dates, wedding invitations, thank you cards, graduation announcements, travel-themed mailings, Indiana correspondence, and other snail mail. In pristine mint condition and valid for current postage use, each stamp holds a face value of 20-cents. These authentic USPS postage stamps are suitable for current mailing when used with the total required postage based on the weight of your mailing.

STAMP INFORMATION:

• Stamp Name: Indiana State Bird and Flower
• Stamp Series: State Birds and Flowers
• Year Issued: 1982
• Face Value: 20-cents (USD) per stamp
• Topic(s): Indiana, State Bird, State Flower, Cardinal, Northern Cardinal, Peony, Birds, Flowers, Wildlife, Botanical, Midwest, Hoosier State, U.S. States
• Color(s): Red, Pink, Green, Brown, Multicolored
• Mailing Occasions: Wedding Invitations, Save-the-Dates, Indiana Weddings, Midwest Weddings, Garden Weddings, Floral Weddings, Peony Weddings, Bird-Themed Mailings, Botanical Correspondence, Graduation Announcements, Thank You Notes, Travel Mail, Everyday Correspondence
• Printing Method: Photogravure
• Scott Number: 1966
• Adhesion Type: Gummed (see adhesion instructions below)
• Stamp Size: 40.0 mm x 25.0 / 1.57 in x 0.98
• Condition: Genuine Unused USPS Postage Stamps, Ready to Use for USPS Mailings, Mint Condition

STAMP DESCRIPTION & HISTORY: The 1982 Indiana State Bird and Flower stamp was issued as part of the State Birds and Flowers se-tenant pane of 50 stamps, with one design representing each U.S. state. The Indiana stamp features a watercolor illustration of a Cardinal paired with a Peony, Indiana’s official state bird and flower. The artwork was created for the State Birds and Flowers issue, a popular USPS commemorative pane celebrating each state’s natural identity through original bird-and-flower artwork.

BIRD DESCRIPTION: The Northern Cardinal is a beloved songbird known for the male’s brilliant red plumage, crest, black facial markings, and clear melodic song. Commonly seen in gardens, woodlands, parks, and backyard landscapes throughout Indiana and the Midwest, the Cardinal brings bold color, warmth, and familiar natural beauty to this stamp. It symbolizes devotion, vitality, faithfulness, remembrance, and a heartfelt connection to home.

FLOWER DESCRIPTION: The Peony is a lush, romantic garden flower known for its full layered petals, soft rounded form, and shades that often include pink, white, red, and blush. As Indiana’s state flower, the Peony brings graceful garden elegance and bridal appeal to this stamp. It is often associated with romance, prosperity, honor, affection, good fortune, and a joyful beginning.

STAMP MEANING & SPIRITUAL SIGNIFICANCE: The Cardinal evokes devotion, loyalty, remembrance, warmth, and enduring love, while the Peony symbolizes romance, abundance, prosperity, honor, affection, and happy beginnings. Together, the bird and flower imagery creates a warm Indiana expression of love, home, garden beauty, and heartfelt connection. This stamp is especially fitting for Indiana weddings, peony-themed celebrations, garden stationery, Midwest correspondence, graduation announcements, thank you notes, travel mail, and messages celebrating romance, heritage, or meaningful new beginnings.

STAMP SERIES HISTORY: The State Birds and Flowers issue was a 50-stamp se-tenant pane released in 1982 to celebrate the official birds and flowers of every U.S. state. The project began after Fleetwood commissioned original paintings from father-and-son wildlife artists Arthur and Alan Singer, whose artwork impressed U.S. Postal Service officials. Each stamp featured unique watercolor artwork, making the issue the first set of its size to include original art for every individual stamp. It was the second U.S. sheet of 50 with all different designs and remained among the most popular issues in U.S. postal history.