Oklahoma Statehood Stamp Sales End December 31st at Local Post Offices

TULSA, OK — Oklahomans have until December 31, 2007 to purchase Oklahoma’s 100th anniversary statehood commemorative stamp at local post offices according to a news release issued by he Oklahoma District of the U. S. Postal Service today. After the stamps are withdrawn from sale on December 31st, for a limited time the stamps will only be available at the Postal Service’s Stamp Fulfillment Services (SFS) center in Kansas City, Missouri.

The Oklahoma Statehood stamp design features an evocative painting by Oklahoma artist Mike Larsen. The painting shows the morning sunlight touching the waters of the Cimarron River, one of several rivers that meander through the state. Also included in the design are the words "Oh, what a beautiful mornin'…" — recalling a popular song from the musical Oklahoma! By Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II.

“The popularity of Oklahoma’s 39-cent statehood commemorative stamp has been phenomenal throughout the state,” said Tulsa postmaster, Kathy Ervin-Johnson. “Statewide, more than 11 million of the 13 million commemorative stamps allocated to the more than 600 post offices, stations and branches in the state have been sold. We encourage customers to purchase our remaining inventory before the close of business on December 31st. We would much rather sell our remaining stock of this beautiful two-inch square masterful work of art, than to prepare the stamps for destruction early next year.”

Commemorative stamps are always printed in limited quantities and may not remain on sale after the official date of withdrawal from sale. The November 22, 2007 issue of the Postal Bulletin established December 31, 2007 as the final day of sale at retail counters. The Kansas City fulfillment center handles mail, telephone, and Internet orders for postage stamps, philatelic quality stamps, and other philatelic products. Customers may request a catalog listing items available by calling 1-800-STAMP-24, or by writing to:

INFORMATION FULFILLMENT
DEPT 6270
PO BOX 219014
KANSAS CITY MO 64121-9014

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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, six days a week. 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.