747 Jumbo Jet Stamp

The Boeing 747 was honored with a United States postage stamp in 1999 as one of the most significant technological advances of the 20th Century. The stamp was issued as part of the Celebrate the Century series. The public was asked to cast ballots over a two year period. Millions of votes later and the 747 Jumbo Jet stamp was born. The Wright Brother’s first flight in 1903 and Charles Lindbergh’s crossing of the Atlantic in 1927 were also honored
with a stamp in the same series.

The 747's enormous size, along with its signature fuselage hump, has made it the most recognized commercial jet airliner in the world. Boeing has built 15 different 747 models over the years, and has delivered more than 1,200 in all -- clearly demonstrating the airplane's versatility, popularity, longevity and value. Oddly enough, the 747 almost never came to be. In 1965, President Lyndon Johnson almost put the kibosh on the 747 designs. He was eventually convinced that the development of the 747 was in the nation’s best interest because it would allow more people to fly for less money.

In Everett, Washington where the 747 was born, there is a giant 70 foot square image of the postage stamp painted on the hangar doors. It’s the world’s largest stamp, on the world’s largest building, where the world’s largest commercial airplane is built. You can also visit the original 747 at Boeing Field.