About This Stamp
This stamp pane commemorates director, producer, writer, and puppeteer Jim Henson (1936–1990), beloved creator of the Muppets. The issuance of these stamps coincides with the 50th anniversary of the television debut of Henson’s famous alter ego, Kermit the Frog.
This stamp pane features 11 stamps. One stamp features a photograph of Jim Henson taken by Norman Seeff in New York City in 1986. Ten additional stamps depict 13 Muppet characters most famous for their roles in "The Muppet Show" and the various Muppet movies: Kermit the Frog; Sam the Eagle; Statler and Waldorf; Animal; Rowlf the Dog; Fozzie Bear; Miss Piggy; The Swedish Chef; Dr. Bunsen Honeydew and his assistant, Beaker; and The Great Gonzo and Camilla the Chicken.
The selvage features a photograph of Jim Henson silhouetted in a window with Kermit the Frog.
Beneath text that reads "Jim Henson" and "the man behind the Muppets" is the following quote, followed by Henson’s signature: "When I was young, my ambition was to be one of the people who made a difference in this world. My hope is to leave the world a little bit better for my having been here."
Muppet Characters © Muppets Holding Company, LLC., a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company. The JIM HENSON image, trademark and signature are used with permission from Henson Family Properties LLC
Art Director
Terrence W. McCaffrey
Terrence W. McCaffrey attended the Corcoran School of Art, majoring in graphic design. Prior to joining the U.S. Postal Service®, he was employed by a Bethesda-based computer firm, where he advanced from intern designer to Assistant Art Director.
McCaffrey joined the Post Office Department in 1970 as a designer in the Communications Department. His original duties included redesigning the employee magazine and all other corporate materials to reflect the new corporate identity that came into effect in 1971 when the Department became the U.S. Postal Service.
Over the next 20 years McCaffrey was responsible for the design of more than 300 lobby posters; promotional material for various services such as Express Mail and Priority Mail™; employee magazines, newsletters, and slide shows; and philatelic products.
In 1990, McCaffrey joined Stamp Services as a member of the stamp design team, also assuming responsibility for the design of all philatelic products. In 1992, he was named Creative Director for the Stamp Design group, with responsibility for all stamp and stationery design. McCaffrey was appointed Manager of the Stamp Development group in 2000. Among his responsibilities were stamp subject and design development, rights of publicity, philatelic products, the USA Philatelic catalog, the philatelic archives, and overseeing the Citizens’ Stamp Advisory Committee.
During his long and productive career at the Postal Service™, McCaffrey served as art director for more than three-dozen issuances. He personally designed a number of U.S. postage stamps, including the Mars Pathfinder Souvenir Sheet; Raphael Cherubs (Love Series); the $2.90 Priority Mail Eagle; the $9.95 Express Mail Eagle; Interphil 76; Energy Conservation and Development; and Happy Birthday. He also co-designed the 15-stamp Star Wars issuance, five Art of Disney issuances, and the Send a Hello and Mail a Smile issuances.
McCaffrey retired in December 2010. He lives in New Braunfels, Texas.