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Philatelic Foreword by Jay Bigalke
On Aug. 1, the United States Postal Service released a playful yet innovative pane of SpongeBob SquarePants forever stamps — featuring a glossy coating applied selectively over SpongeBob’s eyes on the two yellow “face” stamps, and a few coated bubbles on the blue background stamps to simulate an underwater shimmer.
This glossy effect was printed by Banknote Corporation of America, using an offset/screen process on a Gallus RCS press, with the gloss layer added via a dedicated printed screen over the offset base.
SpongeBob SquarePants is Nickelodeon’s beloved animated series created by Stephen Hillenburg, known for its vibrant characters, zany humor, and appeal to both children and adults. Its underwater world of Bikini Bottom and memorable catchphrases have made it a cultural phenomenon since its debut in 1999.
The stamp issue consists of a pane of 16 stamps (four designs) with a print run of 36 million stamps.
While the glossy highlights may seem gimmicky and fun, they also serve a practical anti-counterfeiting function: the specialized gloss coating over small, precise design areas is difficult to replicate with standard printing equipment, thereby adding a layer of security to the issue.
I wish I were a fan of the show — but alas, my pineapple is firmly planted on dry land. Still, for those who do love SpongeBob, these stamps deliver a delightful mix of whimsy and technical flair.
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