Bureau of Engraving and Printing - 5c National Park Service plate proof - August 25, 1966 Design

This is a plate proof for the 5c National Park Service commemorative stamp of 1966, built around the agency's "Parkscape U.S.A." symbol on a vivid yellow field.

Visual Elements & Composition

Yellow dominates the design, giving the symbol a bold, immediate presence. At its center sit three chevron elements arranged into two interlocking triangles, with three circular shapes arranged in a floral pattern between them. The layout is balanced and graphic, with clean edges and no clutter. The text "National Park Service 1916-1966" and "5c U.S." frames the symbol and anchors it as an official stamp design.

Meaning & Symbolism

Designed by Thomas H. Geismar of Chermayeff and Geismar Associates, Inc., the symbol was created to represent the three categories of lands the agency manages: natural, historical, and recreational sites. The stamp marked the National Park Service's 50th anniversary, and the commissioned identity signaled a modern approach to public education and heritage management. It is a milestone of mid-century American graphic design and federal commemoration.

Wearing the Artwork

The Parkscape U.S.A. symbol is a compact, self-contained mark, so it reads well at chest height where the eye lands first. The yellow and the interlocking chevrons stay legible up close, and the three circular forms give the composition a clear center. This tee carries a piece of American postal and park history in the same graphic language the agency chose to introduce itself to the public.