Nature of America
Nature of America is a series of self adhesive stamp sheets that the United States Postal Service has been releasing annually since 1999 till 2010 starting with the Sonoran Desert sheet[1] and ending with the Hawaiin Rain Forest Sheet[2]. Like the Celebrate the Century stamp series, these too were printed on large sheets 9"x8¾" (233mm x 171mm), but differed in that they were self adhesive and not gummed like the former.
Contents |
[edit] Format
The sheets are illustrated by artist John D. Dawson for the USPS[3][4]. Each sheet consists of a large panoramic image of a U.S. geographical region, with the region's flora and fauna clearly visible. Ten stamps are die cut on to the design, each composing one or more specialities of the depicted region. The rear of sheet has a brief descriptive text of the stamp images, accompanied with a graphic outline of the stamp images. The flora and fauna depicted are identified and labelled.
[edit] The sheets
Starting with the Sonoran Desert sheet, the USPS has so far issued twelve sheets in the series. The sheets issued along with date and place of issue and denomination:[3]
| Ecosystem | Date of issue | Place of issue | No. stamps in sheet |
Denomination |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sonoran Desert | April 6, 1999 | Tucson, Arizona [1] | 10 | 33¢ |
| Pacific Coast Rain Forest | March 28, 2000 | Seattle, Washington [5] | 10 | 33¢ |
| Great Plains Prairie | March 29, 2001 | Lincoln, Nebraska [6] | 10 | 34¢ |
| Longleaf Pine Forest | April 26, 2002 | Tallahassee, Florida [7] | 10 | 34¢ |
| Arctic Tundra | July 1, 2003 | Fairbanks, Alaska[8] | 10 | 37¢ |
| Pacific Coral Reef | Jan 2, 2004 | Honolulu, Hawaii [9] | 10 | 37¢ |
| Northeast Deciduous Forest | March 3, 2005 | New York, New York [10] | 10 | 37¢ |
| Southern Florida Wetland | October 5, 2006 | Naples, Florida [11] | 10 | 39¢ |
| Alpine Tundra | August 28, 2007 | Estes Park, Colorado [12] | 10 | 41¢ |
| Great Lakes Dunes | October 2, 2008 | Empire, Michigan [13][14] | 10 | 42¢ |
| Kelp Forest | October 1, 2009 | Monterey, California [15][16][15] | 10 | 44¢ |
| Hawaiian Rain Forest | September 1, 2010 | Hawaii National Park[17] | 10 | 44¢ |
[edit] References
[edit] General
[edit] Specific
- ^ a b "Sonoran Desert". USPS Postal Store Archives. https://shop.usps.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10001&storeId=10052&productId=10004232&langId=-1. Retrieved 2008-02-07.
- ^ "Nature of America Limited Edition Collector’s Set". USPS Postal Store. https://shop.usps.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10001&storeId=10052&productId=10006996&langId=-1&parent_category_rn=10000000&top_category=10000000&categoryId=10000052&top=¤tPage=0&sort=&viewAll=N&rn=CategoriesDisplay&WT.ac=10006996. Retrieved 2010-08-13.
- ^ a b "Nature of America: Alpine Tundra". USPS Postal Store Archives. Archived from the original on January 7, 2008. http://web.archive.org/web/20080107043638/http://shop.usps.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10152&storeId=10001&categoryId=11832&productId=31401&langId=-1. Retrieved 2008-02-07.
- ^ "Meet the artist". Environmental Protection Agency. http://www.epa.gov/owow/estuaries/kids/site/artist.htm. Retrieved 2008-02-07.
- ^ "Pacific Coast Rain Forest". USPS Postal Store Archives. http://shop.usps.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10152&storeId=10001&productId=16814&langId=-1&parent_category_rn=13370. Retrieved 2008-02-07.
- ^ "Wildlife On The Prairie Featured On New Postage Stamps". USPS News. 2001-04-19. http://www.usps.com/news/2001/philatelic/sr01_035.htm. Retrieved 2008-02-07.
- ^ "Beauty Of Longleaf Pine Forest Highlights New Postage Stamps". USPS News. 2002-03-26. http://www.usps.com/news/2002/philatelic/sr02_019.htm. Retrieved 2008-02-07.
- ^ "Alpine Tundra Treks To The Last Frontier". USPS News. http://www.usps.com/communications/news/stamps/2003/sr03_031.txt. Retrieved 2008-02-07.
- ^ "Pacific Coral Reef Stamps to Reveal Life Beneath the Ocean Surface". USPS News. http://www.usps.com/communications/news/stamps/2003/sr03_066.pdf. Retrieved 2008-02-07.
- ^ "Northeast Deciduous Forest Stamp Sheet". USPS News. 2005-02-04. http://www.usps.com/communications/news/stamps/2005/sr05_011.htm. Retrieved 2008-02-07.
- ^ "Unique, Rare And Endangered Species Of Florida Everglades Highlighted On Stamps". USPS. 2006-10-04. http://www.usps.com/communications/news/stamps/2006/sr06_044.htm. Retrieved 2008-02-07.
- ^ "Alpine Tundra Backgrounder". USPS. 2007-08-27. http://www.usps.com/communications/newsroom/2007/sr07_034a.htm. Retrieved 2008-02-07.
- ^ "US Stamp Program 2008 Stamps". Stamp Clubs.com. http://www.stampclubs.com/homepage/US_Stamp_Program_2008.pdf. Retrieved 2008-02-07.
- ^ "Postal Service Previews 2008 Stamps". USPS. http://www.usps.com/communications/newsroom/2007/sr07_084.htm. Retrieved 2008-02-07.
- ^ a b "Postal Service Previews 2009 Commemorative Stamp Program". USPS. http://www.usps.com/communications/newsroom/2008/pr08_136.htm. Retrieved 2009-03-09.
- ^ "2009 Stamp Schedule". USPS. http://www.usps.com/communications/newsroom/eventsgallery.htm. Retrieved 2009-05-18.
- ^ "Hawaiian Rain Forest". USPS. https://shop.usps.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10001&storeId=10052&productId=10006992&langId=-1&parent_category_rn=10000003&top_category=10000003&categoryId=10000068&top=¤tPage=0&sort=&viewAll=Y&rn=CategoriesDisplay&WT.ac=10006992. Retrieved 2010-08-13.
Nature of America Limited Edition Collectors Set: The USPS issued only 2000 collections. A collectors box holds 12 stamp folders and stamp panes (1999 to 2010), artists sketch book, and an autographed, by John D. Dawson, numbered certificate. The USPS worked with Journey Group to create this superior limited collectors edition of 2000. After twelve years of issuing stamps celebrating diverse ecosystems in the United States, the U.S. Postal Service wanted a limited edition product to commemorate the final year of the Nature of America stamp series. The piece needed to successfully archive and preserve all twelve stamp panes as well as highlight the process behind making the entire series. The portfolio needed to be elegant and timeless, while subtle enough not to take away attention from the beautiful stamp artwork. Each stamp folder draws out artistic elements of its corresponding stamp pane. The Sketch book includes an interview with the art director and artist of the 12-year series, plus developmental sketches printed on translucent sheets. The box is sturdy and bold with silver foil embossing on the lid with an air of sophistication. It is a wonderful collection of God's wonders of nature!
