Garbo Sticks

The U.S. Postal Service joins Sweden Post in a joint stamp issuance September 23 at Scandinavia House in New York to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the birth of legendary film actress Greta Garbo.

Greta Lovisa Gustafsson was born on September 18, 1905 in Stockholm, Sweden.

The stamp (above) is based on a photograph (below)

of Garbo at 27 (taken in 1932, in case it's still too early to do the math) during the filming of "As You Desire Me."

This is not the first time Garbo has appeared on a stamp; witness the one below,

from Grenada celebrating the 100th anniversary of cinema.

Going postal is just part of a celebration planned by New York's Scandinavian–American Foundation.

From Steven McElroy's "Arts, Briefly" column in today's New York Times:

Fans can also catch the exhibition "Garbo's Garbos" and the film series "Forever Garbo," both at Scandinavia House.

The exhibition, on view from September 17 through November 12, includes posters and other memorabilia, along with 90 original portraits from Garbo's private collection.

The film retrospective features 14 films, from early Swedish and silent movies to Hollywood blockbusters like "Mata Hari" and "Anna Christie."

Garbo made her final film in 1941, at age 36; she died on April 15, 1990 at age 84 in New York.

She was annoyed by an oft–repeated quote attributed to her and reportedly told friends, "I never said, 'I want to be alone.' I only said, 'I want to be left alone.' There is a world of difference."

Listen for yourself here.

Want more?

Turner Classic Movies (channel 256 on DirecTV) has declared Garbo the Star of the Month for September

and will show 21 movies and three documentaries this month.

The series kicks off tonight at 8 p.m. (ET) with the premiere of "Garbo," a new documentary.

It's narrated by Julie Christie, a minor enigma herself.

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Scandinavia House is at 58 Park Avenue (between 37th and 38th Street); www.scandinaviahouse.org; 212-879-9779; email: info@amscan.org.