By signing the Yosemite Grant Act of 1863, President Abraham Lincoln set aside the scenic natural areas of Mariposa Grove and Yosemite Valley for the benefit of future generations. When it was time to commemorate the sesquicentennial of this landmark legislation, Michael Osborne donated his talents to designing the printed materials for the celebration.
The papers (Canaletto Premium White on the Save the Date and Classic Crest – Classic Natural White Smooth on the invitation and program) communicated elegance and sophistication while gold foil stamping really set the tone for the gala.
Unique elements can be seen throughout the design. A stamp of the grant logo was created for all mailed materials. The logo illustrates a silhouette of a fountain pen against a backdrop of Half Dome with President Lincoln’s signature in the foreground.
Every Save the Date had a keepsake postcard inside that featured a painting by Thomas Hill of Yosemite Valley from Inspiration Point. A replica of the original 1863 grant was tipped onto the back cover of the program. This special touch allowed everyone to hold an exact copy of one of the most important documents in United States National Park history.
