These vintage unused postage stamps will evoke a touch of whimsy and add personality to your mailings! Includes a total of TEN (10) of the 32-cent unused vintage Mary Cassatt "Breakfast in Bed" postage stamps shown in photos.

STAMP INFORMATION:

• Name: Mary Cassatt’s "Breakfast in Bed"
• Series: Four Centuries Of American Art
• Year Issued: 1998
• Face Value: 32 cents each (USD)
• Topic(s): Fine Art, American Artists, Paintings, Impressionist, Mother and Daughter, Mother’s Day, Mom, Baby, Toddler, Hug
• Color(s): Multicolored, Neutral
• Printing Method: Photogravure
• Adhesion Type: Gummed (see below for adhesion instructions)
• Condition: Genuine Unused USPS Postage Stamps, Ready to Use for USPS Mailings, Mint Condition

GENUINE USPS POSTAGE: These unused vintage postage stamps are perfectly valid for use as current postage for mailing with USPS as long as you use the adequate amount of postage to achieve standard postage rates according to the weight of your mailing.

STAMP HISTORY: This Mary Cassatt postage stamp featuring the painting "Breakfast in Bed" (1897) was part of the Four Centuries of American Art series. The painting depicts a woman reclining in bed, with a young child beside her, seemingly offering her breakfast. The woman is dressed in a loose, comfortable gown, and the child, likely a toddler, is reaching toward her with a plate. The composition emphasizes a sense of intimacy, domestic tranquility, and the close bond between mother and child. The soft, muted color palette and use of loose brushstrokes are characteristic of Impressionist style, creating a feeling of warmth and calm in the domestic setting. The placement of the figures within the space—particularly the way the child is positioned at the mother's side—suggests a quiet, personal moment of connection and care.

Mary Cassatt (1844–1926) was a prominent American painter and printmaker who became an integral part of the Impressionist movement.
Breakfast in Bed highlights her focus on women's lives, particularly intimate moments between mothers and children, which was a central theme in her work. The painting also reflects Cassatt’s exploration of domestic space, often depicting women in private moments, either alone or with their children, as well as her mastery in capturing human emotion and connection. As one of Cassatt’s later works, it demonstrates her evolving style and her ability to capture the subtleties of everyday life with a sense of emotional depth and sincerity. The stamp honors Cassatt's artistic contribution, particularly her focus on portraying the quiet, tender relationships of motherhood, and her ability to convey the emotional richness of domestic life through the Impressionist lens. The choice of Breakfast in Bed as the featured painting highlights Cassatt’s unique portrayal of women and the private, nurturing moments they share with their children.

STAMP MEANING & SPIRITUAL SIGNIFICANCE: Breakfast in Bed holds profound spiritual meaning tied to nurturing, intimacy, maternal love, and the sacredness of domestic life. The painting showcases a mother-child bond, a timeless symbol of unconditional love, compassion, and protection. Spiritually, this emphasizes the divine nature of motherhood as a source of nurturance and spiritual growth, where the mother provides not only physical care but emotional and spiritual sustenance. The quiet, intimate scene of a mother in her own space with her child reflects the spiritual sanctity of domestic life. The home is often seen as a sacred space of refuge, connection, and peace, where individuals grow spiritually and emotionally. In this context, the painting emphasizes the spiritual power of ordinary, daily acts, such as caring for loved ones. The closeness of the mother and child in this moment of shared solitude speaks to the spiritual significance of intimate human connections. This moment, though simple, reflects a deeper spiritual truth: the importance of being present with one another in love and tenderness. The physical closeness and exchange of care represent the healing, nurturing energy that is exchanged between souls in loving relationships. The reclining mother, at ease in her personal space, could symbolize the need for self-care, rest, and inner peace. Spiritually, this suggests that in taking care of others, we must also take time to rest and recharge, embracing the idea that spiritual well-being requires balance and self-compassion. Cassatt’s work elevates the ordinary, showing that the seemingly mundane moments of life—such as breakfast in bed with a child—hold spiritual significance. These moments, often overlooked, can be seen as encounters with the divine in everyday life, reflecting the belief that spirituality is not only found in grand gestures but also in the tender and simple acts of care and connection. The stamp featuring Breakfast in Bed emphasizes the spiritual importance of nurturing love, the sanctity of the home, and the sacred bonds of motherhood, while also highlighting the spiritual truth that simple moments of intimacy and care can be deeply transformative and connected to divine love.

SERIES HISTORY: The Four Centuries of American Art postage stamp series was issued by the United States Postal Service (USPS) on August 27, 1998 in Santa Clara, California, as a pane of 20 commemorative stamps, each with a face value of 32-cents, celebrating the rich history of American visual arts. The purpose of this landmark USPS release, celebrating 20 iconic works from colonial portraiture to modern Pop Art, was to honor the diversity and innovation of American artists across four centuries. This series showcases notable paintings and sculptures from the 17th through the 20th centuries, reflecting the evolution of artistic expression in the United States. Each stamp in this collection depicts a masterpiece from a different time period, spanning from the colonial era to modern American art. The selection includes portraits, landscapes, historical depictions, and abstract works, representing a wide range of artistic styles and movements. This series showcases the diversity of American art across different eras and styles, includes both traditional and avant-garde pieces, reflecting shifts in American society, and serves as a lasting teaching tool to introduce the public to significant American artists.

GUMMED STAMP: This postage stamp has a traditional moisture-activated gum on the back. These stamps require licking or wetting to adhere to envelopes or other surfaces. To ensure good adhesion, apply vintage gummed stamps to your mailings with a glue stick (we recommend using Elmer's "Re-Stick" glue sticks).

QUESTIONS? We love hearing from our customers and replies to inquires are usually answered the same day. Need more of this stamp? Looking for a particular stamp not found on our website? Want a curated postage set for your special event?

ABOUT HERITAGE POST HOUSE: Jennifer Kramer is the founder of Heritage Post House, a boutique vintage postage house located in Northern California. Jennifer sources the most beautiful unused vintage postage stamps ever issued by USPS and artfully arranges them into curated postage sets that are sure to add a special touch to your invitations, announcements, and special mailings. In addition to creating pre-arranged postage sets, Jennifer also works with couples (and their stationers) to create one-of-a-kind custom postage arrangements for wedding invitations, save the dates, and other special occasions.


Product Specifications

Length: 1.57 in.
Height: 0.01 in.
Width: 1.24 in.
Weight: 0.01 lbs.