The dedication ceremony took place today at the United States Navy Memorial in Washington, DC.

“On behalf of the U.S. Postal Service, I am pleased to honor these four great sailors who impacted our nation and world,” said Potter. “These brave individuals represent the U.S. Navy’s proud legacy of service to this nation. Their example is an inspiration to every American.”

Joining Potter in dedicating the stamps were Juan M. Garcia III, Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Manpower and Reserve Affairs); Vice Admiral Samuel J. Locklear III, Director, Navy Staff; Edward K. Walker Jr., Rear Admiral, Supply Corps (Ret.) and United States Navy Memorial President; David A. Rosenberg, PhD, Naval Historian/Captain, U.S. Navy Reserves; Rep. Chet Edwards (D-TX); Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX); and, U.S. Postal Service Vice President, Supply Management, Susan M. Brownell.

“I am honored to recognize the contributions these great Americans made to our Navy and to our country,” said Garcia. “It is only fitting that their legacy of honor, courage and commitment be spotlighted by the United States Postal Service.”

The stamps, designed by Phil Jordan of Falls Church, VA, are based on photographs from Navy archives. Text along the top of the stamp sheet identifies the four sailors, the approximate date of each photograph, and a ship named in honor of each sailor.

William S. Sims
Commander of U.S. naval forces in European waters during World War I, Sims (1858-1936) was an outspoken reformer and innovator who helped shape the Navy into a modern fighting force. Frustrated by the Navy bureaucracy, he circumvented his superiors to get the Navy to adopt improved gunfire techniques that increased firing accuracy as ships rolled through ocean swells. He also is noted for promoting the convoy system that grouped ships closely together as they were accompanied by small numbers of Navy escorts while crossing the U-Boat infested Atlantic — saving countless lives in both world wars. The stamp features a detail from a 1919 photograph of Sims and depicts the crest of the destroyer escort USS W.S. Sims (DE-1059), commissioned in 1970.

Arleigh A. Burke
After serving as one of the top destroyer squadron commanders of World War II, Burke (1901-1996) had an equally distinguished postwar career in which he played a major role in modernizing the Navy and guiding its response to the Cold War. During World War II, he gained a reputation for brilliance and innovation while commanding Destroyer Squadron 23, known as “the Little Beavers.” The squadron fought in 22 separate actions in a four-month period, sinking or helping to sink nine enemy destroyers and downing 30 airplanes. He later served an unprecedented three terms as the Navy’s highest ranking officer — Chief of Naval Operations — to speed construction of nuclear-powered submarines and initiating the Polaris Ballistic Missile Program. His stamp, based on a 1951 photograph, depicts the crest of the guided missile destroyer USS Arleigh Burke (DDG-51), commissioned in 1991.

John McCloy
Described by a shipmate as “like a bull” who couldn’t be stopped, McCloy (1876-1945) holds the distinction of being one of the few men in the nation’s history to earn two Medals of Honor for a rescue mission during the Boxer Rebellion in which he was wounded, and during the 1914 Mexican Revolt for intentionally exposing his boat to draw enemy fire to identify their positions for retaliation by U.S. cruiser gunfire. Shot in the thigh, he remained on post 48 hours until the brigade surgeon sent him to a hospital. In 1919 he was awarded the Navy Cross as commander of USS Curlew, which engaged in the “difficult and hazardous duty” of sweeping mines in the North Sea in the aftermath of World War I. His stamp is based on a circa 1920 photograph and depicts the crest of the destroyer escort, USS McCloy (DE-1038), commissioned in 1963.

Doris Miller
The first black American hero of World War II, Miller (1919-1943) became an inspiration to generations of Americans for his actions at Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941. Serving aboard the battleship West Virginia as a mess attendant — the only job rating open to blacks at the time — Miller helped rescue scores of shipmates wounded or trapped in wreckage. He was later ordered to the bridge to help move the ship’s mortally wounded captain. Never trained in its operation, he manned an unattended 50-caliber machine gun to fire on Japanese aircraft until ordered to abandon the bridge as fires raged out of control. He was later awarded the Navy Cross. Miller was promoted in June 1943 to Officer’s Cook Third Class aboard the new escort aircraft carrier Liscome Bay and was killed in action on Nov. 24 that year along with more than 600 shipmates when an enemy torpedo sank the ship during the invasion of the Gilbert Islands. His body was lost at sea. His stamp is based on a 1942 photograph and depicts the crest of the destroyer escort USS Miller (DE-1091), commissioned in 1973. Actor Cuba Gooding Jr., portrayed Miller in the 2001 movie Pearl Harbor.

“I am pleased to announce the appointment of Jean Firstenberg as chairman of the Citizens’ Stamp Advisory Committee,” Potter said. “Jean has already made her presence felt on the committee, having served since 2002. I know she will be an excellent leader as we advance our stamp program in the 21st century.”

In other appointments, Jessica Helfand, who has served on the committee since 2006, will serve as design subcommittee chairman, and Michael Heyman, who was appointed to CSAC in 2000, will serve as vice chairman and subject subcommittee chairman. Both start their new assignments in January 2009.

Potter expressed his appreciation and thanks to outgoing chairman Ron Robinson, who has served on the committee for 15 years.

“Ron brought a passion to his work on the committee,” said Potter. “He has served with great distinction and the utmost dedication.”

To recognize Robinson for his leadership, Potter presented him with a unique, one-of-a-kind framed stamp piece, “Designing the Presidential Libraries Commemorative Stamp,” which includes all of the creative concepts and sketches in the design process for the stamp. Robinson was instrumental in shepherding the Presidential Libraries stamp.

Robinson championed many unique and interesting stamp subjects over the years, including those for: Fulbright Scholarships, Presidential Libraries, The White House, Vintage Black Cinema, Hattie McDaniel, and the To Form a More Perfect Union civil rights stamps. He was big supporter of stamps for the military. Robinson revamped the evaluation and decision-making process for stamp selections. He was instrumental in the move to new stamp shapes with the release of the triangular stamps in 1997.

Potter also praised the work of designer Michael Brock, who is leaving the CSAC after 15 years of service. Appointed to CSAC in 1993, Brock served as design subcommittee chairman from 2005 to 2008.

The 2008 stamp program recognizes a range of subjects as diverse as America itself, from the Chinese Lunar New Year celebrated in Chinatowns all over the country, to 20th century movie icons and literary figures, to the flags of our states and territories.

“This stamp series celebrates our greatest creative minds, our groundbreaking heroes, and the places, institutions and values that have made us who we are,” said Postmaster General John Potter. “We’re proud to be able to highlight noteworthy parts of our shared American history on stamps that people will use every day to connect with family and friends.

Our introduction of The Flags of Our Nation series this summer makes for a perfect start into stamp collecting — and they’re a great geography lesson. We encourage parents to involve their children in this fascinating inexpensive hobby they will cherish for years to come.”

Flags of Our Nation


In mid-June, the first of this multiyear series of 60 stamps will begin to wave across the counters of the nation’s 37,000 Post Offices. The series highlights the Stars and Stripes, 50 state flags, five territorial flags, and the District of Columbia flag. Ten stamps will be issued in the spring — Stars and Stripes, plus Alabama through Delaware — followed by 10 more in the fall — District of Columbia through Kansas. The series continues in 2009 and 2010, with four of the six groups of 10 to include a Stars and Stripes stamp.

The flag art was created by Tom Engeman of Bethany Beach, DE, under the guidance of art director Howard Paine of Delaplane, VA. Each stamp design also includes artwork that provides a snapshot view of the area represented by its flag. In most cases, an everyday scene or activity is shown, but occasionally the view is of something less commonplace — rare wildlife, perhaps, or a stunning vista.

Celebrating Lunar New Year: Year of the Rat
The 2008 commemorative stamp program launches in early January by celebrating the Chinese Lunar New Year with the issuance of the Celebrating Lunar New Year: Year of the Rat stamp. The rat is the first of 12 animals associated with the Chinese lunar calendar. People born in the Year of the Rat are said to be industrious, adaptable and ambitious. The Year of the Rat begins Feb. 7, 2008, and ends Jan. 25, 2009. The stamp will be dedicated 11 a.m. PT, Jan. 9 at the Nob Hill Masonic Center in San Francisco. Art director Ethel Kessler of Bethesda, MD, worked with illustrator Kam Mak, an artist who grew up in New York City’s Chinatown and now lives in Brooklyn.

Charles W. Chesnutt
Later in January, the 31st stamp in the Black Heritage series honors Charles W. Chesnutt, a pioneering writer recognized today as a major innovator and singular voice among turn-of-the-century literary realists who probed the color line in American life. Art director Howard Paine of Delaplane, VA, wanted a stamp that emphasized Chesnutt’s intelligence and dignity. Stamp artist Kazuhiko Sano of Mill Valley, CA, painted Chesnutt’s portrait based on a 1908 photograph from the special collections of Fisk University’s Franklin Library.

Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings
Best known for her Pulitzer Prize-winning novel The Yearling and her memoir Cross Creek, Marjorie Kinnan Rawlingswill be commemorated on Feb. 21 at the site of her Cross Creek, FL, home. Rawlings is remembered for a series of short stories, novels and non-fiction works about life in the Florida backwoods. Her memoir spurred readers to urge her to write Cross Creek Cookery. Rawlings’ collections of southern recipes remain a popular addition to many kitchen libraries today.

Art director Carl Herrman of Carlsbad, CA, worked with award-winning artist Michael Deas of Brooklyn Heights, NY, to create a portrait of the novelist with a background depicting a fawn at a watering hole in the Florida scrub country. The rows of spots on the male fawn are consistent with the description in The Yearling. 

American Scientists
Some of the most impressive scientific achievements of the 20th century will be recognized in April when the American Scientists stamps are issued. The series honors four scientists:

• Theoretical physicist John Bardeen (1908-1991) co-invented the transistor, arguably the most important invention of the 20th century. Bardeen also collaborated on the first fundamental explanation of superconductivity at low temperatures, a theory which has had a profound impact on many fields of physics.
• Biochemist Gerty Cori (1896-1957), in collaboration with her husband Carl, made important discoveries that later became the basis for our knowledge of how cells use food and convert it into energy. Among her discoveries was a new derivative of glucose, a finding that elucidated the steps of carbohydrate metabolism. Their work also contributed to the understanding and treatment of diabetes and other metabolic diseases.
• Astronomer Edwin Hubble (1889-1953) played a pivotal role in deciphering the vast and complex nature of the universe. His meticulous studies of spiral nebulae proved the existence of galaxies other than our own Milky Way, paving the way for a revolutionary new understanding that the cosmos contains myriad separate galaxies, or “island universes.”
• Structural chemist Linus Pauling (1901-1994) determined the nature of the chemical bond linking atoms into molecules. He routinely crossed disciplinary boundaries throughout his career and made significant contributions in several diverse fields. His pioneering work on protein structure was critical in establishing the field of molecular biology and his studies of hemoglobin led to many findings, including the classification of sickle cell anemia as a molecular disease.

For each stamp, artist Victor Stabin of Jim Thorpe, PA, with the assistance of art director Carl Herrman of Carlsbad, CA, created a collage featuring a painted portrait of each scientist combined with diagrams or photographic representations associated with their major contributions.

American Journalists
Five journalists who risked their lives reporting some of the most important events of the 20th century receive their stamp of approval in April. The five stamps honor:

• Martha Gellhorn (1908-1998) covered the Spanish Civil War, World War II and the Vietnam War in a long career that broke new ground for women. With her constant focus on harm to civilians, her reporting was considered a morally courageous model.
• John Hersey (1914-1993) was a versatile writer whose most famous work, Hiroshima, describes what happened when the United States dropped an atomic bomb on the Japanese city that gave the work its title. It has been acclaimed as the greatest work of journalism of the 20th century. Hersey’s work appeared in various publications, including Time, Life and The New Yorker.
• George Polk (1913-1948) was a talented young CBS radio correspondent who filed hard-hitting radio bulletins from Greece describing the strife that erupted there after World War II. He was working on reports of corruption involving U.S. aid when he disappeared. His body was found a week later. The exact circumstances of his death remain a mystery.
• Ruben Salazar (1928-1970) was the first Mexican-American journalist to have a major voice in mainstream news media. His writings in the Los Angeles Times and segments at KMEX-TV on the Chicano movement of the 1960s added richly to the historical record. While in Los Angeles covering a Vietnam War protest, Salazar was killed by a tear gas projectile.
• Eric Sevareid (1912-1992) was a writer for the New York Herald Tribune and later a broadcast journalist for CBS radio recruited by Edward R. Murrow. He covered World War II, reporting on the approach of the Germans to Paris, the exodus from the city and on life in London during wartime. In 1943, while en route to China, Sevareid parachuted from a disabled plane and emerged from the jungle on foot some time later. His later television commentaries in the 1960s and 1970s on the CBS Evening News were widely admired.=

Fred Otnes of West Redding, CT, worked under the guidance of Howard Paine of Delaplane, VA, to illustrate the stamp pane.

Mount St. Mary’s University Stamped Card
In late April, the 200th anniversary of the founding of Mount St. Mary’s University will be celebrated with a stamped postal card issued on the Emmitsburg, MD, campus. The stamp art features a watercolor painting of “the Terrace” created by award-winning architectural illustrator Frank Costantino of Winthrop, MA. Composed of DuBois, Bruté and McCaffrey Halls, the Terrace is one of the central attractions on the university’s picturesque campus. Costantino based his artwork on historic photographs and drawings. Constantino worked with art director Richard Sheaff of Scottsdale, AZ.

Frank Sinatra
The Postal Service honors Frank Sinatra (1915-1998), an Oscar-winning actor and a supreme interpreter of American popular song. Art director Richard Sheaff of Scottsdale, AZ, and stamp artist Kazuhiko Sano of Mill Valley, CA, chose to present this iconic figure in a portrait based on a publicity photograph.

In a 50-year career studded with accolades, Sinatra won several Grammys, received the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award in 1971, and was recognized at the Kennedy Center Honors in 1983. Sinatra gave generously to many charities and was noted for his philanthropy. President Reagan awarded him the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1985. Sinatra was a native of Hoboken, NJ,
where the Post Office was renamed in his honor.

Wedding Hearts
In 2008, the U.S. Postal Service will reissue the designs of the two 2007 Wedding Hearts stamps featuring vines that form the shape of a heart. These stamps are designed especially for mailing wedding invitations and RSVPs and are sure to add an elegant touch to invitations and response cards.

The stamps will be available in two denominations to cover both the one-ounce and the two-ounce mailing rates. Each one-ounce stamp is intended for use on the RSVP envelope often enclosed with a wedding invitation. Each two-ounce stamp will accommodate the wedding invitation with enclosures.
Illustrator Nancy Stahl of New York City based her designs on memories of a wide range of intertwined objects, including silver charms and old-fashioned garden gates. The one-ounce denomination features a sage background, while the two-ounce denomination features a melon background, as determined by Stahl and art director Carl Herrman of Carlsbad, CA.

Minnesota Statehood         
The 150th-year celebration of Minnesota statehood will be commemorated in May on a stamp bearing a photograph by Richard Hamilton Smith of Park Rapids, MN and designed by Ethel Kessler of Bethesda, MD. The view, above Winona, in southeast Minnesota, is the MN-43/WI-54 bridge spanning the main channel of the Mississippi River. The stamp will be dedicated in St. Paul.

Love: All Heart
In 1973, the U.S. Postal Service issued the first stamp in its popular Love series. The 2008 design, titled All Heart, by illustrator Paul Zwolak, under the direction of Ethel Kessler of Bethesda, MD, features an oversized heart being transported by its owner to convey that a heart filled with love could be a gift to one’s beloved, rather than the usual flowers or candy.

Bette Davis
Film diva Bette Davis becomes the 14th inductee into the Legends of Hollywood series on the 100th anniversary of the year of her birth. A consummate actress with a magnetic screen presence, Davis (1908-1989) played a wide variety of powerful and complex roles during her six-decade career. Her riveting performances, acclaimed by critics and fans alike, resulted in 10 Academy Award nominations for best actress; she won twice for her starring roles in Dangerous (1935) and Jezebel (1938). Artist Michael Deas of Brooklyn Heights, NY, based his painting for the stamp on a black-and-white still of Davis made during the filming of All About Eve (1950). The selvage, or margin, photograph is a black-and-white still from Jezebel. Deas worked under the direction of Richard Scheaff of Scottsdale, AZ.

Vintage Black Cinema
Vivid reminders of a bygone era will be celebrated in June through Vintage Black Cinema stamps based on five vintage movie posters. Whether spotlighting the talents of entertainment icons or documenting changing social attitudes and expectations, these posters now serve a greater purpose than publicity and promotion. They are invaluable pieces of history, preserving memories of cultural phenomena that otherwise might have been forgotten. The stamp pane was designed by Carl Herrman of Carlsbad, CA.

The stamp images depict movie posters that promoted:

• The 1921 silent film The Sport of the Gods.
• The first screen appearance of Duke Ellington in the 1929 film Black and Tan.
• Princess Tam-Tam, a French film issued in 1935 that was one of four movies to star Josephine Baker.
• 1929’s Hallelujah, one of the first major-studio films to feature an all-black cast.
• The 1945 short Caldonia, which highlighted the talents of singer, saxophonist and “jump blues” bandleader Louis Jordan, and is often cited as a precursor to today’s music videos.

The Art of Disney: Imagination
With the help of some of Walt Disney’s famous animated characters, these four stamps, scheduled to be the fifth and final in the Art of Disney series, illustrate the theme of imagination. Art director Terrence McCaffrey of Leesburg, VA, joined a design team that included artist Peter Emmerich of Yonkers, NY, and creative director Dave Pacheco of Burbank, CA, to create four stamps featuring:

• Mickey Mouse as Steamboat Willie.
• Princess Aurora and her helpers Flora, Fauna and Merryweather from Sleeping Beauty.
• Pongo and one of his pups from 101 Dalmatians.
• Mowgli and Baloo from The Jungle Book.

Olympic Games
Next July, the Postal Service continues its tradition of honoring the spirit of athleticism and international unity inspired by the Olympic Games. The stamp will be issued to coincide with the games of the XXIX Olympiad, which will be held from Aug. 8 through Aug. 24, 2008 in Beijing, China. The stamp, designed by Clarence Lee of Honolulu, HI, features a drawing by artist Katie Doka, also of Honolulu. The image depicts a gymnast surrounded by ribbon-like design elements. In the upper right corner of the stamp, the denomination is surrounded by a graphic element that resembles the ink mark created by a Chinese “chop,” a carved wooden stamp often used for signatures or seals. The five Olympic rings appear in the lower left corner. The design direction was coordinated by art director Carl Herrman of Carlsbad, CA.

Take Me Out to the Ball Game
One of the most popular baseball songs of all time, “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” celebrates its 100th anniversary in 2008 on postage late next summer. For decades, the song’s catchy chorus has been part of the musical tradition at ballparks around the country, especially during the seventh-inning stretch. The song was born on a New York City train in the summer of 1908, when passenger Jack Norworth — an actor, singer and songwriter who had never attended a major-league ball game — penned the words after seeing a sign about an upcoming game at the Polo Grounds.

The stamp image is based on a circa-1880 “trade card” from the personal collection of art director Richard Sheaff of Scottsdale, AZ. The original card shows a baseball scene and contains words promoting a product made by a Michigan company. The stamp art shows the same scene but replaces the product-related words with “Take Me Out to the Ball Game,” the stamp denomination, notes from the music, and the words “United States of America.”

Charles and Ray Eames
In recognition of their groundbreaking contributions to architecture, furniture design, manufacturing and photographic arts, designers Charles and Ray Eames will be honored next summer with a pane of 16 stamps designed by Derry Noyes of Washington, DC. If you’ve ever sat in a stackable molded chair, you’ve experienced their creativity. Perhaps best known for their furniture, the Eameses were husband and wife as well as design partners. Their extraordinary body of creative work — which reflected the nation’s youthful and inventive outlook after World War II — also included architecture, films and exhibits. Without abandoning tradition, Charles and Ray Eames used new materials and technology to create high-quality products that addressed everyday problems and made modern design available to the American public.

American Treasures: Albert Bierstadt
Add the beauty of Yosemite to your mail with the eighth issuance in the American Treasures series next August. Art director Derry Noyes of Washington, DC, chose “Valley of the Yosemite,”an 1864 oil-on-paperboard painting by Albert Bierstadt (1830-1902). It belongs to the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. “Valley of the Yosemite” shares the freshness and immediacy of the plein air field sketches Bierstadt used in composing a much larger painting titled “Looking Down Yosemite Valley.”

Latin Jazz
The rich musical heritage of Latin jazz is celebrated on a stamp being released in August featuring a bold, graphic design by San Francisco-based artist — and Latin jazz fan — Michael Bartalos. Eager to capture the upbeat, energetic and romantic spirit that characterizes the musical genre, Bartalos, under the art direction of Richard Sheaff of Scottsdale, AZ, created a tropical evening scene that depicts three musicians playing bass, piano and conga drums. The design conveys the multicultural aspects of the music, its percussive and improvisational nature, and of course its rhythmic complexity.

Alzheimer’s Awareness
Extra attention will be paid to the most common form of dementia among older people in September when the Postal Service issues the Alzheimer’s Awareness stamp. Art director Ethel Kessler of Bethesda, MD, worked with illustrator Matt Mahurin of Northport, NY, to draw attention to the importance of the caregiver for those who have Alzheimer’s disease.

Nature of America: Great Lakes Dunes
The 10th issuance in the Nature of America educational series — Great Lakes Dunes — illustrates the beauty and complexity of another major plant and animal community in the United States. To illustrate the diversity of species associated with Great Lakes dunes, artist John Dawson of Hilo, HI, working under the art direction of Ethel Kessler of Bethesda, MD, depicted more than 27 different kinds of plants and animals in his colorful acrylic painting. The scene itself is imaginary as a dense grouping of plants and animals was necessary to illustrate as many species as possible on the stamp pane. Even so, all of the species could be encountered at or near Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore in Michigan, the area featured on the pane. All of the species and their interactions are appropriate and were recommended by scientists.

Holiday Nutcrackers

Four eye-catching nutcracker designs — Santa, or “Father Christmas,” — a king, a captain, and a drummer — add colorful, humorous touches to 2008 winter holiday cards, letters and packages.

The nutcrackers were custom-made for the U.S. Postal Service by Glenn Crider of T.R.C. Designs, Inc., of Mechanicsville, VA. Crider based the characters on sketches and notes provided by Sally Andersen-Bruce of New Milford, CT, who later photographed the completed nutcrackers for the stamps under the art direction of Derry Noyes of Washington, DC.

2008 Christmas Stamp
Working from a detail of a painting titled “Virgin and Child With the Young John the Baptist” by the Italian master Sandro Botticelli, designer Richard Sheaff of Scottsdale, AZ, created the Postal Service’s 2008Christmas stamp. The painting, tempera and oil on wood, dates to around 1490 and is now in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. It presents one of the most common figural groups in religious art. Botticelli’s beautifully rendered figures capture the tender relationship between mother and child and at the same time suggest Mary’s foreknowledge of Christ’s fate. The facial expression of John the Baptist, seen standing to the side in a prayerful gesture, also suggests a heightened awareness.

The U.S. Senate has approved legislation sponsored by U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) to extend the sale of the highly successful Breast Cancer Research Stamp for four additional years beyond the current expiration date of December 31, 2007. The legislation is cosponsored by a bipartisan coalition of 62 additional Senators.

The Senate last night approved the House-passed bill, which included a provision requiring the National Institutes for Health and the Department of Defense to submit an annual report to Congress and the Government Accountability Office (GAO) on significant advances achieved due to funding from the Breast Cancer Research Stamp.

The Breast Cancer Research Stamp has raised more money than any other fund-raising stamp. Since the stamp first went on sale in 1998, the U.S. Postal Service has sold more than 802.15 million stamps, raising $59.49 million for breast cancer research. California continues to be one of the leading contributors, with residents purchasing more than 47 million stamps.

So far, the National Institutes for Health have received $40.4 million and the Department of Defense has received $17.3 million to fund innovative research of breast cancer.

“The breast cancer research stamp has successfully raised almost $60 million dollars for critical research to help find a cure for this devastating disease. And with action in both the Senate and the House earlier this week, the life of this wonderful stamp is just one step away from being extended for four more years,” Senator Feinstein said. “We must continue to do all we can to reach out to women and men who do not know of their cancer and provide hope to those living with it.”

The Breast Cancer Research stamp was the first stamp of its kind dedicated to raising funds for a special cause. The renewal legislation provides for the stamp to continue to have a surcharge above the value of a first-class stamp, with the surplus revenues going to breast cancer research.

The stamp currently costs 55 cents and is deemed valid as a 41-cent stamp. The additional 14 cents charged for each stamp is directed to research programs at the National Institutes for Health, which receives 70 percent of the proceeds, and the Department of Defense breast cancer research programs, which receives the remaining 30 percent of the proceeds.

The funds have gone to researchers making significant advances in breast cancer research and have been used to support new programs. For example:

* In 2006, the National Institutes for Health began to use proceeds from the stamp for a new program that helps determine which breast cancer patients are most likely to benefit from chemotherapy, and therefore, reduce the use of chemotherapy in patients that are unlikely to benefit.

* Dr. Susan Neuhausen, at the University of California, used a National Institutes for Health “Exceptional Opportunities Award” to conduct research that has led to many insights into breast cancer risks. Specifically, by using both genetic and environmental data to identify a specific genetic mutation that may increase the risk of breast and ovarian cancer.

* Dr. William Lee, at the University of Pennsylvania, used a National Institutes for Health award to do research focusing on the growth of blood vessels in tumors.

* Dr. Archbald Perkins, at Yale University, used a Department of Defense “Idea Award” to do research to help with the prognosis of some breast cancers by using new techniques to identify novel genes involved in cancer.

About 3 million women in the United States are living with breast cancer, one million of whom have yet to be diagnosed. One out of every 8 women will get breast cancer at some point in her lifetime, just as one out of every 6 men will have prostate cancer. The disease claims another woman’s life every 13 minutes in the United States. Breast cancer is considered the most commonly diagnosed cancer among women in every major ethnic group in the United States, other than skin cancer. Though much less common, the American Cancer Society estimates that about 2,030 American men will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year.

Originally created in 1997, Congress has reauthorized the Breast Cancer Research Stamp three times. The original sponsors for the bill were Senators Feinstein, Alfonse D’Amato (R-NY), and Lauch Faircloth (R-NC) in the Senate, and Representatives Vic Fazio (D-CA) and Susan Molinari (R-NY) in the House.

Kansas City, MO, July 31, 2007 Since the Postal Service began permitting consumers to design their own stamps in 2004, the demand for custom designed wedding stamps has been steadily growing. Perfect Postage began in March of this year with custom designed 777 wedding stamps as a fun way to showcase invitations for those that were married on July 7, 2007.

Annie Slentz, stamp designer at perfectpostage.com. said “I could not design the stamps quickly enough for the 777 couples – they would sell immediately after becoming available.” As the demand for custom wedding postage grew, Perfect Postage filled the niche for brides to be and wedding planners by offering a full line of wedding correspondence postage.

Wedding postage options include save the date, wedding invitations, bridal showers, engagement announcements, monograms, RSVP and thank you notes. From the first announcement to the thank you notes, brides are no longer limited by Post Office designs.

At perfectpostage.com, brides and wedding planners can browse hundreds and hundreds of wedding stamp designs. These novelty stamps are a great way to introduce your guest to your overall wedding theme whether it’s a beach wedding or a “green” environmentally friendly wedding.

Perfect Postage features elegant designs ranging from a simple rose to personalized initials with artistic backgrounds. Popular wedding phrases include stamps designed with “All you need is Love”, “With this ring” “And the Two Shall Become One.” Wedding cakes, one of the best selling lines, are featured on a wide range of postage. Each stamp can be personalized with the bride and groom’s name, wedding date or initials.

Custom stamps are tailored for each month with a wide range of colors and backgrounds to feature each season. January wedding stamps showcase chocolate brown backgrounds with winter white flowers. June, the most popular month, has a variety of themes including roses, calla lilies, orchids, lace and pearls. A unique June stamp also features the next big wedding date: 06/07/08.

Perfect Postage also offers fun designs for showers, new baby announcements, anniversaries and birthdays. To view the full line of designer stamps, visit perfectpostage.com. As one bride said, “Your invitations will not only get delivered, they’ll get noticed.”

The article doesn’t explain why you’d need to use a company like this rather than dealing directly with one of the custom stamp vendors, though. The ‘entrepreneur’ talks a lot about his research, his pending patents and such, but never explains what value his company adds to the process. And yes, there is actually a patent application on file, claiming that this idea is an ‘invention’!

“Americans traditionally send something sweet in their envelopes on Valentine’s Day,” said John E. Potter, postmaster general and chief executive officer, U.S. Postal Service, at the stamp dedication ceremony. “With the With Love and Kisses stamp, they can now put something sweet on their envelope.”

Joining Potter in the dedication was Richard H. Lenny, chairman, president and chief executive officer, The Hershey Company®; Honorable Tim Holden, member of Congress,17th district of Pennsylvania; and David E. Failor, executive director, Stamp Services, U.S. Postal Service.

“The Hershey®’s Kisses® Brand is an enduring symbol of love, affection and sharing, recognized world over for its distinct shape, classic silver foil and unmistakable plume,” said Lenny. “The With Love and Kisses stamp reinforces the passion and emotional connection consumers have with the iconic Hershey’s Kisses Brand.”

Evoking images of sweet and ardent affection, the With Love and Kisses stamp features a Hershey’s Kisses Chocolate and a red heart that form mirror images of one another. Written on the heart is “Love,” while “Kisses” appears on the plume that extends from the top of the chocolate treat.

The unmistakable shape of Hershey’s Kisses Chocolates has not changed since The Hershey Company introduced this milk chocolate candy to the nation in 1907. Wrapped by hand until the process was automated in 1921, Hershey’s Kisses Brand Chocolates have been available year-round for 100 years with only one exception. Production ceased from 1942 to 1949, when silver foil was rationed as a result of the war effort. Hershey’s Kisses Brand Chocolates wrapped in red and silver foil were introduced in 1986 in honor of Valentine’s Day.

The Postal Service™ began issuing its popular Love stamps in 1973, and the With Love and Kisses stamp marks the 23rd in the series. Over the years these stamps have been used on wedding correspondence, Valentine’s Day sentiments and Mother’s Day and Father’s Day cards.

Award-winning illustrator José Ortega of New York City and Toronto, who designed the With Love and Kisses stamp, previously designed the Salsa stamp, one of four stamps that appeared as part of the 2005 Let’s Dance: Bailemos! stamp issue.

With Love and Kisses Promotion Fact Sheet

“Guess & Win” Sweepstakes

The United States Postal Service® is celebrating the launch of the With Love and Kisses stamp by offering consumers a chance to win a romantic getaway.

* Beginning January 15 through February 15, 2007, the U.S. Postal Service® is giving consumers a chance to win $10,000 for a romantic getaway of their choice, along with other great prizes, in the exciting “Guess & Win” Sweepstakes.

* To enter, consumers can guess how many Hershey®’s Kisses® Brand Chocolates will fit inside a U.S. Postal Service Priority Mail® flat-rate box (dimensions: 11 7/8″ x 3 3/8″ x 13 5/8″). Interested consumers can visit participating Post Office™ locations to receive a “Guess & Win” entry form and personal access code. Entries can then be submitted online at www.guessandwinsweeps.com or by sending a 3 x 5 note card, including name and address, to USPS Guess & Win Sweepstakes, PO Box 861, Bethpage, NY 11714-0861.

* One lucky winner who correctly guesses the number of Hershey’s Kisses Chocolates that fit inside a U.S. Postal Service Priority Mail flat-rate box will receive $10,000 for a romantic getaway, compliments of the Postal Service™. Additional prizes include 100 “In the Mailbox™ With Love and Kisses” bears.

* Consumers can also enter this sweet promotion by visiting usps.com and clicking on the “Guess & Win” banner, or by visiting www.guessandwinsweeps.com directly to make their guess.

* In addition to offering consumers a chance for exciting prizes, www.guessandwinsweeps.com is also helping people to connect with a kiss. To celebrate the personal connections fostered by the U.S. Postal Service and Hershey’s Kisses Brand Chocolates, consumers nationwide can send “Virtual Kiss” e-mails to friends and loved ones from the site.

* The U.S. Postal Service “Guess & Win” Sweepstakes is open to legal U.S. residents 18 years of age or older. Winners will be announced on or about February 23, 2007, by Strobe Promotions, Inc., an independent judging organization.

* Entrants can view the official rules at www.guessandwinsweeps.com.

With Love and Kisses Philatelic Fact Sheet

Philatelic Products

There are five philatelic products available for this stamp issue.

* Item 676740: Booklet Pane of 20 – $7.80
* Item 676761: First Day Cover – $.0.77
* Item 676765: DCP CNC Cover – $1.50
* Item 676793: First Day Cover Keepsake – $8.57
* Item 676799: Digital Color Postmark Keepsake – $9.30

How to Order 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
US POSTAL SERVICE
PO BOX 219014
KANSAS CITY MO 64121-9014

How to Order First Day of Issue Postmark

Customers have 60 days to obtain the first day of issue postmark by mail. They may purchase new stamps at their local Post Office, by telephone at 800-STAMP-24 and at The Postal Store® Web site at www.usps.com/shop.

They 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:

WITH LOVE AND KISSES STAMP
POSTMASTER
FIRST DAY OF ISSUE CANCELLATION
50 N LINDEN RD
HERSHEY PA 17033-9998

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 13, 2007.

“When you scratch the front of the stamps, it smells of the popular chinese dish and when the back of the stamp is licked it tastes of the dish too.”

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