State Bird and Flower "Mississippi" Stamps (Mockingbird, Magnolia, Birds, Aviary, White Flower, Flora) Unused USPS Postage 20c

Add elegant flair to your holiday letters with these vintage unused "Mississippi" (Mockingbird & Magnolia) postage stamps! This nostalgic Southern design is perfect for adding a touch of class to your cards and letters or save-the-dates and wedding invitations. In pristine mint condition and valid for current postage use, each stamp holds a face value of 20-cents. These USPS postage stamps are suitable for current mailing when used with the total required postage based on the weight of your correspondence. Embrace the deep South with this enchanting postage stamp!

STAMP INFORMATION:

• Name: Mississippi (Mockingbird & Magnolia)
• Series: State Birds & Flowers
• Year Issued: 1982
• Face Value: 20-cents (USD) per stamp
• Topic(s): Birds, Aviary, Flowers, Flora, White Flower, Mississippi State Bird, Mississippi State Flower 
• Color(s): White, Green, Multicolored
• Printing Method: Photogravure
• Scott Number: 1976
• Adhesion Type: Gummed
• Condition: Genuine Unused USPS Postage Stamps, Ready to Use for USPS Mailings, Mint Condition

STAMP HISTORY: The 1982 20-cent “Mississippi” postage stamp is part of the "State Birds & Flowers" series, released on April 14, 1982. It features a watercolor illustration of Mississippi’s state bird, the Mockingbird, together with its state flower, the Magnolia. The artwork was created by the father-and-son team Arthur and Alan Singer, with Arthur painting the birds and Alan painting the flowers. This stamp is one of a se-tenant set of 50 different designs—one for each U.S. state—each pairing the state’s official bird and flower, all executed as original watercolor designs rather than variations of a common template. The series was notable in postal history for being one of the first U.S. issues of this size devoted to original artwork for every stamp and for contributing to the popularization of state pride themes in stamp collecting.

STAMP MEANING & SPIRITUAL SIGNIFICANCE: The 1982 20-cent “Mississippi” stamp — depicting the mockingbird and magnolia — carries a gentle, soulful spiritual symbolism rooted in resilience, grace, and the harmony of expression and beauty. While created to celebrate Mississippi’s natural emblems, the stamp’s imagery evokes universal spiritual themes: the song of the spirit (mockingbird) and the blossoming of the soul (magnolia).

The mockingbird, known for its gift of song and its ability to mimic other birds, symbolizes creative expression, adaptability, and spiritual communication. In many traditions, birds are seen as messengers between the earthly and divine realms, and the mockingbird in particular represents the freedom of the spirit to find its own voice. Spiritually, it reminds us that authenticity is sacred — that each person’s unique song, though influenced by others, becomes divine when expressed from the heart. Its varied song also speaks to the oneness of creation, suggesting that all voices, all beings, are part of a shared spiritual chorus.

The magnolia, with its large, fragrant blooms, embodies dignity, purity, and endurance. It has long been a symbol of spiritual beauty that withstands adversity, blooming boldly in both gentle and humid climates alike. Its creamy petals and rich green leaves carry the energy of renewal and grace, reflecting the soul’s capacity to remain open and radiant even in difficult conditions.

Together, the mockingbird and magnolia create a deeply symbolic harmony — the union of voice and stillness, sound and silence, movement and rootedness. Spiritually, the Mississippi stamp celebrates the dance between inner expression and outer grace, reminding us that beauty and meaning arise when we live in balance with nature and our authentic selves. Ultimately, the spiritual message of this stamp is one of creative renewal and soulful integrity — to sing your truth, to bloom where you are planted, and to honor the divine rhythm that connects every living thing through voice, color, and light.

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…

TELL YOUR STORY IN STAMPS: We’ve worked with hundreds of couples and their stationers to custom design highly stylized personalized postage sets based on our customer’s life stories. We can help you curate personalized vintage postage sets to commemorate your save-the-date, wedding, shower, announcement, and other special occasions in a truly unique fashion. Drawing on our encyclopedic knowledge of every stamp ever issued by the USPS, and sourcing from our extensive inventory of collectable unused vintage stamps, we’ll help you tell your unique story in stamps!

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.

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