USPS News: Philatelic Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 17, 2001 Postal Service Honors Mount McKinley With New International Rate Postage Stamp FAIRBANKS, Alaska — In its continuing efforts to showcase America's scenic national landmarks with overseas recipients of mail, the U.S. Postal Service today issued a new international rate postage stamp honoring Mount McKinley. The 80-cent Mount McKinley stamp is available today at all Fairbanks post offices, and, starting tomorrow, will be available at post offices across the country. The stamp is intended for letters weighing up to and including one ounce and being mailed to all countries other than Canada and Mexico. "The Mount McKinley stamp serves as a reminder of the awesome beauty and wonder we can enjoy by visiting our national parks," said Postmaster General William J. Henderson, who dedicated the stamp along with Senator Ted Stevens (R-AK). "Alaskans are proud of our great mountain," said Stevens. "The release of this stamp ensures that recipients of foreign bound U.S. mail can share in Alaska's natural beauty and are encouraged to visit our land." The Mount McKinley stamp is the third international rate philatelic item issued this year. The Badlands stamped postal card and Nine-Mile Prairie stamp were issued Feb. 22 and March 6, respectively. They are all part of a series honoring scenic American landmarks that began in 1999 with the Niagara Falls stamp, the Mount Rainier stamped postal card, the Voyageurs National Park aerogramme and the Rio Grande stamp. A stamp featuring the Grand Canyon was issued on Jan. 20, 2000. Mount McKinley is located in Alaska's Denali National Park and Preserve. At 20,320 feet, Mount McKinley is the highest mountain in North America. The original park was established on Feb. 26, 1917, as a wilderness area called Mount McKinley National Park. It was incorporated into Denali National Park and Preserve in 1980. Designed by Ethel Kessler of Bethesda, Md., the stamp features a color photograph of Mount McKinley taken by world renowned National Geographic Society photojournalists John Eastcott and Yva Momatiuk. Text on the stamp reads "Mount McKinley, Alaska." To see the Mount McKinley stamp, and other forthcoming stamps in the U.S. stamp program, visit the Postal Service Web site at www.usps.com and click on "Stamp Release Schedule." All current stamps and other philatelic products, as well as a free catalog, are available by calling toll free 1 800 STAMP-24. A selection of current stamps and gift items are also available online at the Postal Store. # # # 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: MT MCKINLEY STAMP, POSTMASTER, 5400 MAIL TRAIL, FAIRBANKS AK 99709-9991 After applying the 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 17, 2001. TECHNICAL DETAILS Issue: Mount McKinley Item Number: 561500 Denomination & Type of Issue: 80-cent international (1 oz rate) Format: Pane of 20 (1 design) Issue Date & City: April 17, 2001, Fairbanks, AK 99709 Photographers: John Eastcott and Yva Momatiuk, Hurley, NY Designer: Ethel Kessler, Bethesda, MD 20814 Engraver: Southern Graphics System Art Director: Ethel Kessler, Bethesda, MD 20814 Typographer: Ethel Kessler, Bethesda, MD 20814 Modeler: Avery Dennison, SPD Manufacturing Process: Gravure Printer: Avery Dennison (AVR) Printed at: AVR, Clinton, SC Press Type: Dia Nippon Kiko (DNK) Stamps per Pane: 20 Print Quantity: 85 million stamps Paper Type: Prephosphored, Type I Gum Type: Self-adhesive Processed at: AVR, Clinton, SC Colors: Yellow, Cyan, Magenta, Black, Silver Stamp Orientation: Horizontal Image Area (w x h): 1.410 x 0.840 in./35.814 x 21.336 mm Overall Size (w x h): 1.560 x 0.990 in./39.624 x 25.146 mm Full Pane Size (w x h): 6.5 x 5.875 in./165.10 x 149.225 mm Plate Size: 200 stamps per revolution Plate Numbers: "V" followed by five (5) single digits Marginal Markings: " © 2000 USPS" - Price - Plate Position Diagram Plate Numbers - Bar Code 561500 (1 at top & 1 at bottom) Catalog Item Number(s): 561540 Full Pane of 20 - $16.00 561530 Block of 10 - $8.00 561520 Block of 4 - $3.20 561561 First Day Cover - $1.01