United States stamps year 2003 Aviation Airplanes, Wright Brothers – First Flight MNH
In 2003, the United States Postal Service (USPS) issued a significant commemorative stamp to mark the 100th Anniversary of the Wright Brothers’ First Flight. This centennial celebration was one of the most publicized philatelic events of the year.
The “First Flight” Centennial Issue
Unlike many series that feature multiple designs, this commemorative was issued as a single-design Souvenir Sheet.
| Feature | Details |
| Denomination | 37 cents |
| Issue Date | May 22, 2003 |
| Scott Number | Scott 3783 |
| Format | Souvenir Sheet of 10 stamps |
| Design | Depicts the Wright Flyer in the air with Orville Wright at the controls. |
| Locations | Issued simultaneously in Dayton, OH and Kill Devil Hills, NC. |
Key Design & Technical Details
- The Artwork: Designed and illustrated by McRay Magleby. It features a stylized, elegant rendering of the 1903 Flyer against a soft yellow and blue sky, emphasizing the “controlled, powered, and sustained” nature of the flight.
- The Text: The stamp is inscribed with “First Flight • Wright Brothers • 1903” at the bottom.
- Format Varieties:
- The Sheetlet: A large pane containing 10 self-adhesive stamps arranged in two columns of five.
- Booklet Pane: A smaller version (Scott 3783b) was also produced for booklet collectors.
- Printing: Produced using the gravure process by Avery Dennison, which gives the stamps a very smooth, photographic quality.
Philatelic Value
Because 85 million of these stamps were printed, they remain very common and affordable for collectors today.
- Mint Never Hinged (MNH) Sheet: Generally retails for $5.00 – $10.00.
- Single Stamp (Used/Mint): Often worth face value ($0.37) or just slightly more ($0.50 – $1.00).
- First Day Covers (FDC): Usually sell for $1.50 – $3.00. Covers with dual cancellations from both Dayton (the Wrights’ home) and Kitty Hawk (the flight site) are particularly popular.
Related 2003 Aviation Issues
While the Wright Brothers centennial was the primary aviation focus, the USPS also released the “American Filmmaking: Behind the Scenes” set in 2003, which includes a stamp for Special Effects that some aviation collectors include because it depicts a high-flying, adventurous scene.
