A 22-cent commemorative stamp honoring the 100th anniversary of the accounting profession in the United States was issued on September 21, 1987, in New York City. The First Day of Issue ceremony occurred at Radio City Music Hall during the opening of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants' (AICPA) five-day centennial membership meeting and exposition.
The need for accurate recordkeeping dates back 5,000 years, when people maintained records of receipts and disbursements on clay tablets. However, accounting as it exists today had its origins in fifteenth-century Italy.
In the last century, the certified public accountant's responsibilities have grown from the simple reporting of financial information to detailed consultation on all types of business decisions. Advances in computer technology have revolutionized the profession by reducing the time and costs of performing accounting services and by enabling CPAs to make informed audit decisions. In turn, business and government have benefited from the profession's expanded ability to serve in an increasingly complex economy.
Lou Nolan, McLean, Virginia, designed the stamp. He also designed the 17-cent Dog Sled and 3.4-cent School Bus Transportation Series issues.
The stamps were printed in the offset/intaglio process by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing and issued in panes of fifty.
