American Treasures Stamps: Quilts of Gee's Bend

The American Treasures stamp series showcases American fine art and crafts. For 2006, art Director Derry Noyes chose photographs of ten quilts that were stitched between 1940 and 2001 by African-American women in Gee's Bend, Alabama. The quilts of Gee's bend are famous for their bold and unexpected color combinations. Some designs are improvised and many quilts were made from items such as clothing, feed and flour sacks and worn out denim and flannel work clothes. The rural community of Gee's bend was born after slavery was abolished, when former slaves became tenant farmers for the plantation owner. Quilting skills have been passed down through the generations and quilting is still an important part of life in Gee's Bend today. More than fifty women formed the Gee's Bend Quilter's Collective, an organization devoted to selling the quilts being produced by its current quilters.

More About the Quilts of Gee's Bend

• Gee's Bend Book
• Some of the Quilts of Gee's Bend
• Gee's Bend Quilts into Hand Made Rugs
• Order Gee's Bend Stamps Online

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