West Virginia Postage Stamps | State Bird and Flower Issue | Cardinal & Rhododendron Big Laurel | Vintage Unused USPS Postage 20c
West Virginia Postage Stamps | State Bird and Flower Issue | Cardinal & Rhododendron Big Laurel | Vintage Unused USPS Postage 20c
Add Appalachian woodland beauty and West Virginia charm to your letters with these vintage unused “West Virginia State Bird and Flower” postage stamps! This colorful commemorative design is perfect for adding Cardinal imagery, Rhododendron floral detail, regional history, mountain character, and classic Mountain State botanical beauty to save-the-dates, wedding invitations, thank you cards, graduation announcements, travel-themed mailings, West Virginia 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: West Virginia State Bird and Flower
- Stamp Series: State Birds and Flowers
- Year Issued: 1982
- Face Value: 20-cents (USD) per stamp
- Topic(s): West Virginia, State Bird, State Flower, Cardinal, Northern Cardinal, Big Laurel, Rhododendron, Rhododendron Maximum, Birds, Flowers, Wildlife, Botanical, Appalachian, Mountain State, U.S. States
- Color(s): Red, Pink, Green, Brown, White, Multicolored
- Mailing Occasions: Wedding Invitations, Save-the-Dates, West Virginia Weddings, Appalachian Weddings, Mountain Weddings, Woodland Weddings, Garden Weddings, Floral Weddings, Bird-Themed Mailings, Botanical Correspondence, Graduation Announcements, Thank You Notes, Travel Mail, Everyday Correspondence
- Printing Method: Photogravure
- Scott Number: 2000
- 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 West Virginia 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 West Virginia stamp features a watercolor illustration of a Cardinal paired with Big Laurel, also known as Rhododendron Maximum, West Virginia’s official state bird and flower. The State Birds and Flowers issue used original bird-and-flower artwork for each state and became one of the most recognizable nature-themed U.S. commemorative stamp issues of its era.
BIRD DESCRIPTION: The Northern Cardinal is a beloved songbird known for the male’s vivid red plumage, pointed crest, black face mask, and clear whistled song. Often seen in gardens, woodland edges, hedgerows, and mountain landscapes, the Cardinal brings brilliant color and familiar Appalachian warmth to this stamp. It symbolizes devotion, vitality, protection, love, remembrance, and a heartfelt connection to home.
FLOWER DESCRIPTION: Big Laurel, or Rhododendron Maximum, is a broadleaf evergreen shrub known for its glossy green leaves and clusters of pale pink to white blossoms. As West Virginia’s state flower, it reflects Appalachian woodland beauty, mountain resilience, and the natural grace of the Mountain State. Its blossoms are often associated with affection, protection, perseverance, beauty, and love rooted in place.
STAMP MEANING & SPIRITUAL SIGNIFICANCE: The Cardinal evokes love, loyalty, vitality, remembrance, and devoted presence, while Rhododendron symbolizes protection, affection, resilience, beauty, and enduring connection to home. Together, the bird and flower imagery creates a distinctly West Virginia expression of love, mountain heritage, woodland romance, and natural grace. This stamp is especially fitting for West Virginia weddings, Appalachian celebrations, mountain stationery, floral correspondence, graduation announcements, thank you notes, travel mail, and messages celebrating love, roots, 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. Each stamp featured unique bird-and-flower artwork for a different state, creating one of the most visually varied U.S. commemorative issues of its era. The pane’s combination of wildlife, botanical imagery, and state identity made it especially popular with topical collectors and remains highly useful for curated vintage postage pairings.
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.
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).
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.
SCROLL DOWN TO VIEW QUANTITY BASED PRICING
Product features
Product features
- Unused/uncanceled stamps
- Mint condition
- Limited circulation, collectable
- Postage value is face value printed on stamps
- USPS genuine and authentic postage
- Ready to use for mailing today
Handling and care
Handling and care
- Vintage stamps should be handled with care
- Do not expose to moisture
- Store unused stamps in provided glassine envelopes
- Store in a cool dark place
- Avoid long exposure to UV light
- Handle with clean/dry hands, cotton gloves, or tweezers
Application and use
Application and use
- Carefully weigh and measure each mail piece to determine required postage
- Check current postage rates at USPS.com
- Multiple stamps may be necessary to meet required postage for mailing
- Extra postage may be required for envelopes with a wax seal, ribbon, thicker than 1/4-inch, doesn't bend, square shaped, or irregular size
- Your local post office will confirm how much postage is required for your particular mailing
- Gummed stamps should always be applied to your mailing with a glue stick (we recommend Elmer's "Re-Stick" glue sticks)
FREE shipping available
FREE shipping available
- FREE shipping available for all orders over $49 — eligibility calculated after coupons and discounts are applied during checkout
- Expedited shipping and rush order processing available when selected before finalizing your order; consult our Shipping Policy for more details
Shop with confidence
Shop with confidence
- 15 day return window for most stamps (excludes special orders and custom curated stamp sets); consult our Refund Policy for return requirements and details
- USPS package tracking on all orders
- All orders are insured by USPS for up to $100 of loss or damage
- Additional shipping insurance available for purchase for higher value orders
- Visit our FAQ for answers to frequently asked questions
Tell your story in stamps
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 that will 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 postage stamps, we’ll help you tell your unique story in stamps!
- Engage our custom curation services today and we’ll do the work for you…
Have questions?
Have questions?
- Questions about this or other stamps? We love hearing from our customers and replies to inquires are usually answered the same day. Contact us with questions about vintage stamps and our services.
- Need more of this stamp? We usually have access to more quantity than is shown here on our website. If you need more of any stamp, please contact us with the stamp name and quantity desired. We’ll email you with a price quote based on the quantity desired and an estimated delivery timeline.
- Looking for another stamp? We have ready access to virtually every USPS postage stamp ever issued. If you are looking for a particular stamp, please contact us with the stamp name and quantity desired. We’ll email you with a price quote based on the quantity desired and an estimated delivery timeline.
- Need a custom curated postage set? When you engage our custom curation services we do all the work for you. We have helped hundreds of customers by designing custom-curated postage for save-the-dates, wedding invitations, bridal shower invitations, birth announcements, reunion invitations, and more! We’d be delighted to help you tell your story in stamps…
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