Forever Stamps 2014 Star-Spangled Banner, First-Class Postage

This stamp marks the 200th anniversary of the Star-Spangled Banner. The image, captured by photographer Gary Clark, depicts a flag flying over Fort McHenry during a fireworks display at the annual Defenders’ Day celebration.

In the War of 1812, officials commissioned Mary Pickersgill to sew a flag large enough for the British to see from a distance. This flag was intended to fly over Baltimore’s Fort McHenry, a target for the British.

Pickersgill crafted “one American ensign, 30×42 feet, first quality bunting,” and a smaller flag for inclement weather. The construction, requiring over 400 yards of wool bunting, took place on the floor of a nearby brewery after business hours.

The British initiated the bombardment of Fort McHenry on September 13, 1814. Francis Scott Key observed the 25-hour assault from a ship in Chesapeake Bay. Due to heavy rain, Key likely saw the smaller flag at “twilight’s last gleaming.” However, as morning approached, the oversized flag defiantly rose above Fort McHenry, inspiring Key to pen lyrics about the “star-spangled banner.”

The Battle of Fort McHenry could have ended explosively if not for fate. The fort’s commander alone knew the gunpowder magazine, bombarded with some 2,000 shells, was not bombproof. A direct hit would have instantly destroyed the fort.

Photographer Gary Clark captured the stamp’s image, facing challenges in coordinating the fireworks and the flag due to windy conditions during the Defenders’ Day celebration.