Ancient Greek Architecture and One of the World’s Oldest Insects To Be Featured on Stamps

WASHINGTON, DC—What do an architectural style developed by the ancient Greeks and a dragonfly have in common? Both are beautiful works of art featured on new stamps coming to a Post Office near you.

The Postal Service is selling a new stamped postcard featuring an ink and watercolor drawing of a Corinthian capital, which is the topmost part of a building’s column. Carved in an ornate decorative pattern developed in ancient Greece, Corinthian capitals adorn the columns of the General Post Office building in New York and the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington, DC. The artwork for the 26-cent stamped postcard is from the records of the Architect of the Capitol. The card was designed by Gerald Gallo of Bethesda, MD.

On May 19, one of the world’s oldest insects — the dragonfly — will appear on a postage stamp. The new 62-cent stamp is for First-Class Mail single pieces, such as square greeting cards. Fossil records show that dragonfly species have existed for 300 million years, since well before dinosaurs and 150 million years before birds.

The stylized illustration of a dragonfly is by Nancy Stahl of New York, who has worked on numerous stamp projects, including the Bighorn Sheep stamp and Florida Panther stamp.

The Corinthian Capital stamped postcard and the Dragonfly stamp can be purchased in Post Offices, on usps.com, and by calling 800-STAMP-24. The Corinthian Capital postcard is available now, and the Dragonfly stamp on May 19.

Corinthian Capital Stamped Postcard Philatelic Fact Sheet

Philatelic Products

There are two philatelic products available for this stamp issue:

• 222461, CNC Postcard, $0.40
  
• 222561, CNC Postcard, $0.70

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
U.S. Postal Service
PO Box 219014
Kansas City, MO  64121-9014

How to Order the First-Day-of-Issue Postmark

Customers have 60 days to obtain the first-day-of-issue postmark by mail. They may purchase the new stamped postcards at their local Post Office, by telephone at 800-STAMP-24, or at the Postal Store website at www.usps.com/shop. They should address the cards (to themselves or others) and place them in an envelope addressed to:

Corinthian Capital Stamped Postcards
Postmaster
Special Cancellations
PO Box 92282
Washington, DC 20090-9998

After applying the first-day-of-issue postmark, the Postal Service will return the cards through the mail. There is no charge for the postmark. All orders must be postmarked by July 11, 2008.

Dragonfly Stamp Philatelic Fact Sheet

Philatelic Products

There are four philatelic products available for this stamp issue:

• 120420, booklet of 4, $2.48
  
• 120430, booklet of 10, $6.20
  
• 120440, full pane, $12.40
  
• 120461, First-Day cover, $1 

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
U.S. Postal Service
PO Box 219014
Kansas City, MO  64121-9014  

How to Order the 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, or at the Postal Store website 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:

Dragonfly Stamp
Postmaster
Special Cancellations
PO Box 92282
Washington, DC 20090-9998

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 July 21, 2008.