Express Mail and Priority Mail Stamps Highlight Magnificent American Wonders

Stamps good for new 2009 prices

High-resolution images of the stamps are available for media use only by emailing mark.r.saunders@usps.gov

WASHINGTON —Two treasured wonders of the American landscape will be celebrated Jan. 16 when the U.S. Postal Service issues the $17.50, Old Faithful (Express Mail)and $4.95, Redwood Forest (Priority Mail)definitive stamps at the SANDICAL Stamp Show in San Diego, CA. The stamps will be available nationwide that day.

The 2009 Express Mail stamp depicts Yellowstone National Park’s Old Faithful erupting in the warm glow of an autumn sunset while several bison graze nearby. The 2009 Priority Mail stamp, paying tribute to America’s redwood forests, depicts two people walking through a forest of redwood trees. Both stamps are digital illustrations produced by stamp artist Dan Cosgrove of Clarendon Hills, IL, under the direction of art director Carl T. Herrman of Carlsbad, CA.

The stamps are being issued at new prices that go into effect Jan. 18 for Express Mail and Priority Mail. Some other USPS package and international shipping prices also change on Jan. 18. However, prices for mailing services, including First-Class Mail stamps, will be announced in February and will be effective in May. For more details on 2009 pricing, go to: usps.com/prices (click “New Shipping Prices” box).

How to Order the First-Day-of-Issue Postmarks
Customers have 60 days to obtain the first-day-of-issue postmark by mail. They may purchase new stamps at The Postal Store at: www.usps.com/shop, by calling 800-STAMP-24 or by visiting a Post Office.

Customers should affix the stamps to envelopes of their choice, address the envelopes, to themselves or others, and place them in a larger envelope addressed to:

Postmaster
(Redwood Forest and/or Old Faithful) First-Day-of-Issue Postmark(s)
P.O. Box 85530
San Diego, CA 92186-5530

After applying the first-day-of-issue postmark, the Postal Service will return the envelopes through the mail. There is no charge for the postmark. All orders must be postmarked by March 18, 2008.

How to Order Express Mail and Priority Mail Stamp First-Day Covers
Stamp Fulfillment Services also offers first-day covers for new stamp issues and Postal Service stationery items postmarked with the official first-day-of-issue cancellation. Each item has an individual catalog number and is offered in the quarterly USA Philatelic catalog. Customers may request a free catalog by calling 800-STAMP-24 or writing to:

Information Fulfillment
Dept. 6270
U.S. Postal Service
P.O. Box 219014
Kansas City, MO 64121-9014

Philatelic Products
There is one philatelic product available for each stamp:

113461 First-Day Cover (Priority Mail stamp), $5.33
113561 First-Day Cover (Express Mail stamp), $17.88

After applying the first-day-of-issue postmark, the Postal Service will return the envelopes through the mail. There is no charge for the postmark. All orders must be postmarked by March 19, 2008.

# # #

An independent federal agency, the U.S. Postal Service is the only delivery service that visits every address in the nation — 146 million homes and businesses. It has 37,000 retail locations and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to pay for operating expenses, not tax dollars. The Postal Service has annual revenues of $75 billion and delivers nearly half the world’s mail.