The Libraries of New York City on Stamps

A Philatelic Tribute on the Occasion of the 100th Anniversary of its Building at 5th Ave. & 42nd Street

In 2000 the United States Postal Service (USPS) issued a stamp for pre-sorted standard mail based on one of the lions in front of the New York Public Library (NYPL). Because the USPS has a policy against honoring individual local institutions, the stamp was to be issued with out any reference to the New York Public Library. However, the NYPL required that the inscription "The New York Public Library" be added to the stamp because the lion is trademarked by NYPL. Because of the stamps widespread use by bulk mailers, it was one of of the most prolific of all library stamps. The 2000 stamp is Scott Catalogue #3447. Additional minor variations of the stamp are listed as #3447a and #3769.

This stamp commemorating the 500th Anniversary of the Gutenberg Bible is based on a mural in the New York Public Library. It was issued in 1952 and is Scott Catalogue #1014.

The Maldive Islands issued this stamp depicting the New York Public Library as part of a souvenir sheet in conjunction with the Postage Stamp Mega Event in New York City in 1992. It is Scott Catalogue #1788.

This stamp is part of a set of postage stamps relating to New York City issued by Grenada Grenadines in 1986. It depicts the Croton Reservoir in 1875. The reservoir was located on the site which was to become the location of the New York Public Library. Parts of the reservoir are still located beneath the library. The stamp is Scott Catalogue #727

A second stamp in the 1986 Grenada Grenadines set depicts the New York Public Library building on 5th Avenue. It is Scott Catalogue #728.

In 2009 the Union des Comores issued this stamp of a painting of the New York Public Library by Colin Campbell Cooper. It was part of a souvenir sheet which included other paintings by Cooper.

Stamps which are designed to look like postage stamps but are not are called "Cinderellas" by stamp collectors. This example of a Cinderella depicts the New York Public Library, and was part of a set of stamps showing New York City scenes produced by Eaton's Fine Letter Papers.