Beauty Of Longleaf Pine Forest Highlights New Postage Stamps; Fourth in Nature of America Stamp Series Debuts in April

3/26/2002

From: Cathy Yarosky, 202-268-2126 Joseph Breckinridge, 770-454-0630 both of the United States Postal Service Web: www.usps.com

WASHINGTON, March 26 -- The beauty and majesty of America's longleaf pine forests will be featured on new commemorative postage stamps issued by the United States Postal Service next month.

The public is invited to the first day of issue ceremony which will be held at 10 a.m. on April 26, 2002, at the Tall Timbers Research Station, 13093 Henry Beadel Drive, County Road 12, Tallahassee, Fla.

The new stamps will be available in Tallahassee starting April 26, and at post offices across the country beginning the following day.

The Longleaf Pine Forest stamps will be available on a pane featuring 10 designs that together comprise a natural landscape scene. It is the fourth in an educational series designed to promote appreciation of North America's major plant and animal communities.

"These are beautiful stamps that vividly highlight the splendor and diversity of our natural resources," said Robert Rider, a member of the presidentially appointed Postal Service Board of Governors, who will dedicate the stamp.

Previous issuances in the Nature of America series were Sonoran Desert (1999), Pacific Coast Rain Forest (2000) and Great Plains Prairie (2001).

The Longleaf Pine Forest stamps illustrate the diversity of species found in the longleaf pine forest. Artist John D. Dawson portrayed 31 animal and plant species in his beautiful painting. Although the scene itself is imaginary, all species represented are appropriate and were recommended by scientists. A description of the longleaf pine forest and a numbered key to the artwork appear on the back of the stamp pane, along with a corresponding list of common and scientific names for 27 selected species.

The following explanatory text (along with a key to the artwork and a corresponding list of species) appears on the back of the stamp pane: Although greatly reduced in size, the longleaf pine forest still occupies parts of its natural range in the coastal plains from southeastern Virginia to eastern Texas. Characterized by the longleaf pine, this unique ecosystem includes many plant communities that vary with soil type, moisture, and frequency of fire. Before European settlement, fires burned unchecked and the longleaf pine evolved with adaptations to survive fire. Seedlings need fire-cleared ground to become established. They resemble clumps of grass and long needles that protect the buds. Their long taproots store food, allowing the young trees to shoot upward, thus reducing the exposure of the growing tips to fire. Mature trees have thick, protective bark.

This "forest built by fire" still supports divers species, including the endangered red-cockaded woodpecker. Programs are underway to preserve remaining stands of longleaf and restore them where they have been replaced by other trees.

Following are the 27 species identified on the back of the stamp pane.

1. Bachman's Sparrow (Aimophila aestivalis) 2. Broadhead Skink (Eumeces laticeps) 3. Hooded Pitcher Plant (Sarracenia minor) 4. Flatwoods Salamander (Ambystoma cingulatum) 5. Rosebud Orchid (Cleistes divaricata) 6. Pipewort (Eriocaulon sp.) 7. Red-cockaded Woodpecker (Picoides borealis) 8. Yellow Pitcher Plant (Sarracenia flava) 9. Grass-pink Orchid (Calopogon tuberosus) 10. Northern Bobwhite (Colinus Virginianus) 11. Longleaf Pine (Pinus palustris) 12. Yellow-sided Skimmer (Libellula flavida) 13. Ornate Chorus Frog (Pseudacris ornate) 14. Toothache Grass (Ctenium aromaticum) 15. Eastern Towhee (Pipilo erythrophthalmus) 16. Fox Squirrel (Sciurus niger) 17. Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus) 18. Gray Fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus) 19. Gopher Tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus) 20. Florida Pine Snake (Pituophis melanoleucus mugitus) 21. Southern Toad (Bufo terrestris) 22. Turkey Oak (Quercus laevis) 23. Brown-headed Nuthatch (Sitta pusilla) 24. Blind Click Beetle (Alaus myops) 25. Sweetbay (Magnolia virginiana) 26. Pine Woods Treefrog (Hyla femoralis) 27. Savannah Meadow Beauty (Rhexia alifanus).

Lack of space precluded the naming of four species that appear in the artwork: crane fly (Tipula sp.), wiregrass (Aristida stricta), oak toad (Bufo quercicus) and bracken fern (Pteridium aquilinum).

To see the Longleaf Pine Forest stamps, and other 2002 issues, go to the Stamp Release Schedule located in the Collector's Corner of the Postal Store at www.usps.com/shop. Images of many past and future stamp issues can be found in the Stamp Issues section of the Collector's Corner.

All current stamps and other philatelic products, as well as a free comprehensive catalog, are available by calling toll free 1 800 STAMP-24. In addition, a selection of current stamps and gift items are available online at the Postal Store.

--- Since 1775, the U.S. Postal Service has connected friends, families, neighbors and businesses by mail. It is an independent federal agency that visits 137 million homes and businesses every day and is the only service provider to deliver to every address in the nation. The Postal Service receives no taxpayer dollars for routine operations, but derives its operating revenues solely from the sale of postage, products and services. With annual revenues of more than $65 billion, it is the world's leading provider of postal services, offering some of the most affordable postage rates in the world. The U.S. Postal Service delivers more than 46 percent of the world's mail volume-some 207 billion letters, advertisements, periodicals and packages a year-and serves 7 million customers each day at its 40,000 retail locations nationwide.

--- TECHNICAL DETAILS

Issue: Longleaf Pine Forest Item Number: 452800 Denomination & Type of Issue: $3.40 Souvenir Sheet Format: Self-adhesive Pane of 10 (10 designs) Series: Nature of America Issue Date & City: April 26, 2002, Tallahassee, FL 32301 Artist: John D. Dawson, Hilo, HI Designer: Ethel Kessler, Bethesda, MD Engraver: Armotek Industries Art Director: Ethel Kessler, Bethesda, MD Typographer: Ethel Kessler, Bethesda, MD Modeler: Donald H. Woo Manufacturing Process: Gravure Printer: Sennett Security Products (SSP) Printed at: American Packaging Corporation, Columbus, WI Press Type: Rotomec, 3000 Stamps per Pane: 10 Print Quantity: 70 million stamps Paper Type: Phosphor Tagged Paper, Block Gum Type: Self-adhesive Processed at: Unique Binders, Fredericksburg, VA Colors: Black, Cyan, Yellow, Magenta, PMS 554 (Green) Stamp Orientation: Horizontal and Vertical Orientation 1: Horizontal Image Area (w x h): 1.56 x 1.225 in./39.624 x 31.115 mm Overall Size (w x h): 1.56 x 1.225 in./39.624 x 31.115 mm Orientation 2: Vertical Image Area (w x h): 1.225 x 1.56 in./31.115 x 39.624 mm Overall Size (w x h): 1.225 x 1.56 in./31.115 x 39.624 mm Full Pane Size (w x h): 9.125 x 6.75 in./231.775 x 171.45 mm Plate Size: 90 stamps per revolution Catalog Item Number(s): 452840 Souvenir Sheet -- $3.40 452862 Full Pane First Day Cancellation -- $5.40 452884 Uncut Press Sheet -- $20.40

HOW TO ORDER THE FIRST DAY OF ISSUE POSTMARK Customers have 30 days to obtain the first day of issue postmark by mail. They may purchase the new stamps at their local post office, affix the stamps to envelopes of their choice, address the envelopes (to themselves or others), and place them in a larger envelope addressed to: LONGLEAF PINE FOREST COMMEMORATIVE STAMPS, POSTMASTER, 2800 S ADAMS STREET, TALLAHASSEE FL 32301-9991. 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 May 26, 2002.

Stamp Fulfillment Services also offers first day covers for new stamp issues and postal 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 writing to: INFORMATION FULFILLMENT, DEPT 6270, US POSTAL SERVICE, PO BOX 219014, KANSAS CITY MO 64121-9014, or by calling 1 800 STAMP-24.

First day covers remain on sale for at least one year after the stamp's issuance