...and so are Marilyn Monroe, Louis Armstrong, Caryand Ulysses Grant, Ayn Rand and Woody Guthrie, Joe Louis, Audrey Hepburn, Billie Holiday, James Dean, Abigail Adams, John Henry, George Washington, Dracula, Frankenstein, several LOVES, dinosaurs and trains, planes and automobiles.

All of these and many more are in "The Art of the Stamp," an exhibition of 94 original works of art by 52 artists, that were used to create stamps. The exhibition will be on view at the Littleton Historical Museum, 6028 S. Gallup St., Littleton, from October 20 through January 7, 2007.

The exhibition was drawn from the collection of the United States Postal Service by the Smithsonian's National Postal Museum in partnership with the Postal Service. It was organized for travel by the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service.

"The Art of the Stamp" explores the evolution of the postage stamp, from hand-engraved depictions of our historic past to dynamic graphic statements that document all aspects of American life - past and present. The earliest stamp in the exhibit is Saluting Boy Scout by Norman Rockwell, issued in 1960; and the most recent is a portrait of Audrey Hepburn, by Michael Deas, issued in 2003.

Artists who have designed stamps for the Postal Service and who are featured in "The Art of the Stamp"include Michael Deas (Marilyn Monroe, James Dean, Thomas Wolfe, Al Hirschfeld (Stars of the Silent Screen series), Mark Hess ( Abraham Lincoln, Ulysses S. Grant), C. F. Payne ( Ethel Merman), Robert Indiana ('Love' stamp) and Jerry Pinkney ( Sojourner Truth).

U. S. Postal Service Manager of Stamp Development Terry McCaffrey said, "The Postal Service is proud of its tradition in partnering with the leading illustrators and designers of the day in developing some of the most beautiful and innovative works of postage stamp art being produced. The successful results of these collaborations are proudly displayed in this wonderful exhibit that will travel around the county."

"The Art of the Stamp" pays tribute to the contributions of outstanding artists and designers whose captivating and aesthetically diverse images serve as strong statement of our national artistic expression and honors the United States Postal Service's long-term commitment to the art of illustration.

The Smithsonian's National Postal Museum is devoted to presenting the engaging history of the nation's mail service and showcasing the largest and most comprehensive collection of stamps and philatelic material in the world. Its five exhibition galleries present America's postal history from Colonial times from the present, while its collections contain prestigious U. S. and international rarities and specialized collections, archival postal document and three-dimensional objects.

The Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service (SITES) has been sharing the wealth of Smithsonian collections and research programs with millions of people outside Washington, D. C., for more than 50 years. SITES connects Americans to their shared cultural heritage through a wide range of exhibition about art, science and history, which are shown wherever people live, work and play.