GUAM INSPIRES MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL STAMP
Nature of America:
Pacific Coral Reef
This pane of 10 stamps depicting sea creatures is the sixth in the
Nature of America series promoting appreciation of America's major
plant and animal communities. Featuring a coral reef near Guam, a U.S.
territory in the western Pacific Ocean, this stamp pane is the first
in the series to show the beauty and complexity of an aquatic
ecosystem. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Current U.S. stamps and stationery, as well as a free catalog, are
available by toll-free phone order at 1 800 STAMP-24. In addition, a
selection of stamps and other philatelic items are available at the
online Postal Store at www.usps.com/shop. Custom-framed art prints of
original stamp art are available at www.postalartgallery.com.
TECHNICAL DETAILS
Contact: Media Relations (202) 268-6160
December 10, 2003
Postal Service Web Site: www.usps.com
Stamp News Release Number: 03-066
Pacific Coral Reef Stamps to Reveal
Life Beneath the Ocean Surface
WASHINGTON - Starting Jan. 2, the colorful images of more than 30 sea
creatures will give a panoramic glimpse beneath the water's surface of
life on a Pacific coral reef. The clown triggerfish, prickly red sea
cucumber, wedge picassofish and blacktip shark are just a few of the
magnificent creatures shown on the spectacular Pacific Coral Reef pane
of stamps to be issued by the U.S. Postal Service.
Postmaster General John E. Potter will introduce the Pacific Coral
Reef pane of 10 stamps at the Waikiki Aquarium in Honolulu, Hawaii, on
Jan. 2, 2004. The stamps will be available at Honolulu Post Offices
starting that day and at Post Offices in other areas of the country
beginning the following day.
"The Nature of America series helps us gain appreciation and
understanding of the wonder of life," says Potter. "This newest
addition to the series, the Pacific Coral Reef stamps, reveals the
beauty of life on a coral reef."
The Pacific Coral Reef stamp pane is the sixth in this educational
series to promote appreciation of major plant and animal communities
and the first to show the beauty and complexity of an aquatic
ecosystem. Previous issues in the series were Sonoran Desert (1999),
Pacific Coast Rain Forest (2000), Great Plains Prairie (2001),
Longleaf Pine Forest (2002) and Arctic Tundra (2003).
Artist John D. Dawson portrays more than 30 different marine animals
in this colorful painting of a coral reef typical of the western
Pacific Ocean near Guam. In the scene, a large humphead wrasse eyes
its neighbors as a blacktip shark prowls in the distance. Meanwhile, a
spectacular lionfish forages among the coral for shrimps, crabs and
small fish.
The text on the back side of the stamp pane identifies the following
species:
1. Blue Coral (Heliopora coerulea)
2. Mound Coral (Porites sp.)
3. Antler Coral (Pocillopora eydouxi)
4. Clown Triggerfish (Balistoides conspicillum)
5. Magnificent Sea Anemone (Heteractis magnifica)
6. Pink Anemonefish (Amphiprion perideraion)
7. Reef Blacktip Shark (Carcharhinus melanopterus)
8. Emperor Angelfish (Pomacanthus imperator)
9. Threadfin Butterflyfish (Chaetodon auriga)
10. Black-spotted Puffer (Arothron nigropunctatus)
11. Staghorn Coral (Acropora sp.)
12. Snowflake Moray Eel (Echidna nebulosa)
13. Spanish Dancer (Hexabranchus sanguineus)
14. Humphead Wrasse (Cheilinus undulatus)
15. Lionfish (Pterois volitans)
16. Moorish Idol (Zanclus cornutus)
17. Triton's Trumpet (Charonia tritonis)
18. Hawksbill Turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata)
19. Crown-of-thorns Sea Star (Acanthaster planci)
20. Bumphead Parrotfish (Bolbometopon muricatum)
21. Palette Surgeonfish (Paracanthurus hepatus)
22. Prickly Red Sea Cucumber (Thelenota ananas)
23. Orangeband Surgeonfish (Acanthurus olivaceus)
24. Oriental Sweetlips (Plectorhinchus vittatus)
25. Bluestreak Cleaner Wrasse (Labroides dimidiatus)
26. Mushroom Coral (Fungia sp.)
27. Wedge Picassofish (Rhinecanthus rectangulus)
To see the 2004 U.S. commemorative stamp program, visit the Postal
Service's Web site at
http://www.usps.com/communications/news/stamps/2003/sr03_065stamps.htm
Since 1775, the U.S. Postal Service has connected friends, families,
neighbors and businesses by mail. It is an independent federal agency
that visits more than 141 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
$68.9 billion, it is the world's leading provider of mailing and
delivery 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 202 billion letters, advertisements,
periodicals and packages a year - and serves seven million customers
each day at its 40,000 retail locations nationwide.
Issue: Pacific Coral Reef
Item Number: 457100
Denomination & Type of Issue: $3.70 Souvenir Sheet
Format: Pane of 10 (10 designs)
Series: Nature of America
Issue Date & City: January 2, 2004, Honolulu, HI 96820
Artist: John D. Dawson, Hilo, HI
Designer: Ethel Kessler, Bethesda, MD
Art Director: Ethel Kessler, Bethesda, MD
Typographer: Ethel Kessler, Bethesda, MD
Modeler: Avery Dennison, SPD
Engraver: Keating Gravure
Manufacturing Process: Gravure
Printer: Avery Dennison, (AVR)
Printed at: AVR, Clinton, SC
Press Type: Dia Nippon Kiko (DNK)
Stamps per Pane: 10
Print Quantity: 7.6 million panes
Paper Type: Nonphosphored, Type III, Block tagged
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Processed at: AVR, Clinton, SC
Colors: Yellow, Magenta, Cyan, Black, PMS 294 (Blue),
PMS 5635 (Green)
Stamp Orientation: Horizontal and Vertical
Orientation 1: Horizontal
Image Area (w x h): 1.410 x 1.075 in./35.814 x 27.305 mm
Overall Size (w x h): 1.410 x 1.075 in./35.814 x 27.305 mm
Orientation 2: Vertical
Image Area (w x h): 1.225 x 1.560 in./31.115 x 39.624 mm
Overall Size (w x h): 1.225 x 1.560 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: 80 stamps per revolution
Catalog Item Number(s): 457140 Full Pane of 10 - $3.70
457162 First Day Cover Full Pane - $6.20
457164 Canceled Full Pane - $6.20
457184 Press Sheet - $29.60
457193 Full Pane w/First Day Cover - $9.90
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, 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: PACIFIC CORAL REEF STAMPS,
POSTMASTER, 3600 AOLELE STREET, HONOLULU HI 96820-3670.
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 February 1, 2004.
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.
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