Marilyn Monroe Commemorative Postage Stamps
Philatelic collectibles; sheet of commemorative postage stamps on adhesive-backed paper • Commissioned by the postal administration of St. Vincent; based on various archival publicity photographs of Marilyn Monroe
Style & Movement
Pop Culture / Philatelic Commercial Art
Medium & Technique
Multi-color offset lithography on perforated stamp paper with gummed backing
Creation Period
Circa 1991-1994
Dimensions & Format
Approximately 12cm x 15cm for the full sheet; individual stamps are roughly 3cm x 4cm in a landscape-oriented grid within a portrait-oriented sheet
Subject Description
A souvenir sheet featuring nine unique portraits of Marilyn Monroe, capturing various stages of her film career. Each stamp includes the text 'St. VINCENT $1' and her birth/death dates 'MARILYN MONROE 1926-1962'. The imagery uses soft-focus, idealized renderings of cinematic glamour from the mid-20th century.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Good/Fair - The stamps are housed in a glassine envelope, but visible foxing (brown spotting) is present, particularly on the left margin and center-bottom.
Estimated Market Value
$5.00 - $15.00 USD
Auction Estimate
$3.00 - $10.00 USD
Provenance History
Likely purchased from a philatelic dealer or through a postal subscription service; currently in private collection.
Art Historical Significance
Represents the mass-market proliferation of Marilyn Monroe as a global icon. Many Caribbean and Pacific island nations issued these 'topical' stamps in the 1990s specifically for the international collector market rather than for domestic postal use.
Notable Features
Features the official currency 'St. Vincent $1' and includes the perforated edges characteristic of collectors' sheets; images are likely derived from famous stills such as the 'Gentlemen Prefer Blondes' and 'The Prince and the Showgirl' eras.
Condition Issues
Significant foxing (biological/chemical paper deterioration) visible as orange-brown spots; slight curling of the sheet edge; glassine paper shows creasing.
Conservation Recommendations
Remove from the acidic glassine envelope and place in a PVC-free, archival Mylar sleeve. Store in a cool, dry environment with low humidity to stop the progression of foxing.