Nature of America
{{About|the series of stamps|nature in the U.S.|Environment of the United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2013}}
{{Infobox postage stamp
| common_name = Nature of America
| image = frameless
| country_of_production = United States
| location_of_production = Browns Summit, NC [http://about.usps.com/postal-bulletin/2009/pb22266/html/info1_005.htm Stamp Announcement 09-45: Nature of America: Kelp Forest] USPS 20 July 2013
AVR, Clinton, SC
Williamsville, NY
| date_of_production =
| face_value = 33¢ x 10 ($3.30)
1999 and 2000
34¢ x 10 ($3.40)
2001 and 2002
37¢ x 10 ($3.70)
2003 to 2005,
39¢ x 10 ($3.90) 2006
41¢ x 10 ($4.10) 2007
42¢ x 10 ($4.20) 2008
44¢ x 10 ($4.40) 2009 and 2010
| commemorates = Ten U.S. geographical regions
| depicts = Flora and fauna of ten U.S. geographical regions
| notability = Educational series [https://archive.today/20130722095913/http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1999-03-21/entertainment/9903190555_1_commemorative-stamps-stamp-designs-stamp-services Sonoran Desert Inaugurates The `Nature Of America' Series] Sun Sentinel 21 March 1999
| engraver =
| printer = Banknote Corporation of America;
Ashton-Potter (USA) Ltd; American Packaging Corp.
Avery Dennison;
Sennett Security Products
| dimensions = {{convert|233|x|171|mm|in|abbr=on}}
| perforation = Die cut
| nature_of_rarity = Not rare
| number_in_existence =
| estimated_value = About $11.50 to 17.50 as per catalog [http://www.mysticstampcatalog.com/lg_display.cfm/catalog/2013_Vol_1/page/129 Nature of America] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130526075013/http://www.mysticstampcatalog.com/lg_display.cfm/catalog/2013_Vol_1/page/129 |date=May 26, 2013 }} Mystic Co stamp catalog
}}
Nature of America is a series of twelve self-adhesive stamp sheets that the United States Postal Service released annually between 1999 and 2010 starting with the Sonoran Desert sheet{{cite web
|url =http://arago.si.edu/index.asp?con=1&cmd=1&mode=1&tid=2042835
|title =Sonoran Desert
|accessdate =2013-05-14
|publisher =National Postal Museum, Arago™}} and ending with the Hawaiian Rain Forest Sheet.[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=fqtPAAAAIBAJ&sjid=21IDAAAAIBAJ&dq=nature%20of%20america%20series&pg=5429%2C3256554 Nature to play major role in 199 postage] Kingman Daily Miner - Nov 19, 1998 Like the Celebrate the Century stamp series, these were printed on large sheets 9"x8¾" (233mm x 171mm), but differed from the former in that they were self adhesive and not gummed.
Design process
The sheets were designed by Ethel Kessler and illustrated by artist John D. Dawson[http://www.nj.com/homegarden/design/index.ssf/2009/11/nature_of_america_stamp_series.html Nature of America stamp series includes stunning kelp forest scene] New Jersey.com 4 November 2009[http://www.bigislandnewscenter.com/hilo-artists-work-to-be-featured-on-usps-bonsai-stamp-series/ Hilo Artist’s Work to Be Featured on USPS Bonsai Stamp Series] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120129064933/http://www.bigislandnewscenter.com/hilo-artists-work-to-be-featured-on-usps-bonsai-stamp-series/ |date=January 29, 2012 }} Big Island Newscenter Retrieved 22 August 2011 for the USPS.{{cite web
|url=http://shop.usps.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10152&storeId=10001&categoryId=11832&productId=31401&langId=-1
|title=Nature of America: Alpine Tundra
|accessdate=2008-02-07
|publisher=USPS Postal Store Archives
|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080107043638/http://shop.usps.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10152&storeId=10001&categoryId=11832&productId=31401&langId=-1
|archivedate=January 7, 2008
|url-status=dead
|df=mdy-all
|url =http://www.epa.gov/owow/estuaries/kids/site/artist.htm
|title =Meet the artist
|accessdate =2008-02-07
|publisher =Environmental Protection Agency}} The original idea for the series, conceived 1996, was for a set of four American desert stamps. This was inspired by the success of Desert Plants commemorative stamps released in 1981. Artist John D. Dawson was recommended by art director Howard Paine and selected for the illustration of these four stamps. Paine had worked with Dawson on three previous USPS issues: American Cats (1988), Idaho Statehood (1990), and Flowering Trees (1998). From four stamps the idea expanded into a proposed set of six stamp sheets covering six ecosystems. After the commercial success of the first sheets the USPS decided to extend the series by six more ecosystems from the Sonoran Desert to the Hawaiian Rain Forest.
The design team drew inspiration from The World of Dinosaurs two-sheet issue of 1997. These sheets were panoramic in design with punched perforations on a gummed sheet. Since the punched perforations would distract the visual continuity of the design, the team decided to go for the self-adhesive format with serpentine die cutting for the individual stamps. Each sheet consisted of a large panoramic image of a U.S. geographical region, with the region's flora and fauna clearly visible. Ten stamps were die cut on to the design, each composing one or more species indigenous to the depicted region. The rear of sheet had a brief descriptive text of the stamp images, accompanied with a graphic outline of the stamp images. The flora and fauna depicted were identified and labelled.
The sheets
Starting with the Sonoran Desert sheet, the USPS issued a total of twelve sheets in the series. The sheets issued along with date and place of issue denomination and printer:
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| align="top"
! Ecosystem !! Date of issue !! Place of issue !! No. stamps |
| Sonoran Desert
|April 6, 1999 |10 |33¢ |Banknote Corporation of America[http://www.mysticstamp.com/viewProducts.asp?sku=3293 1999 33c Sonoran Desert s/a Pane/10 - Catalog # 3293] Mystic Stamp Co Retrieved 22 July 2013 |
| Pacific Coast Rain Forest
|March 28, 2000 |Seattle, Washington{{cite web |url =http://arago.si.edu/index.asp?con=1&cmd=1&mode=1&tid=2037482 |title =Pacific Coast Rain Forest |accessdate =2013-05-14 |publisher =National Postal Museum, Arago™}} |10 |33¢ |Banknote Corporation of America[http://www.mysticstamp.com/viewProducts.asp?sku=3378 2000 33c Pacific Coast Rain Forest, s/a - Catalog # 3378] Mystic Stamp Co Retrieved 22 July 2013 |
| Great Plains Prairie
|March 29, 2001 |url =http://arago.si.edu/index.asp?con=1&cmd=1&mode=1&tid=2044871 |title =Great Plains Prairie |accessdate =2013-05-14 |publisher =National Postal Museum, Arago™}} |10 |34¢ |Ashton-Potter (USA) Ltd[http://www.mysticstamp.com/viewProducts.asp?sku=3506 2001 34c Great Plains Prairie - Catalog # 3506] Mystic Stamp Co Retrieved 22 July 2013 |
| Longleaf Pine Forest[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=x20eAAAAIBAJ&sjid=XckEAAAAIBAJ&dq=nature%20of%20america%20series&pg=6030%2C2209777 New stamp series depicts Longleaf Pine Forest] Times Daily - Feb 16, 2002
|April 26, 2002 |Tallahassee, Florida{{cite web |url =http://arago.si.edu/index.asp?con=1&cmd=1&mode=1&tid=2045190 |title =Longleaf Pine Forest |accessdate =2013-05-14 |publisher =National Postal Museum, Arago™}} |10 |34¢ |American Packaging Corp. for Sennet Security[http://www.mysticstamp.com/viewProducts.asp?sku=3611 2002 34c Longleaf Pine Forest s/a - Catalog # 3611] Mystic Stamp Co Retrieved 22 July 2013 |
| Arctic Tundra
|July 1, 2003 |url =http://arago.si.edu/index.asp?con=1&cmd=1&mode=1&tid=2045822 |title =Arctic tundra |accessdate =2013-05-14 |publisher =National Postal Museum, Arago™}} |10 |37¢ |Banknote Corporation of America [http://www.mysticstamp.com/viewProducts.asp?sku=3802 2003 37c Arctic Tundra - Catalog # 3802] Mystic Stamp Co Retrieved 22 July 2013 |
| Pacific Coral Reef[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=CdhDAAAAIBAJ&sjid=BrEMAAAAIBAJ&dq=nature%20of%20america%20series&pg=4523%2C3424413 More in store for 2003 - stamps that is] The Albany Herald - Dec 21, 2003
|Jan 2, 2004 |url =http://arago.si.edu/index.asp?con=1&cmd=1&mode=1&tid=2041558 |title =Pacific Coral Reef |accessdate =2013-05-14 |publisher =National Postal Museum, Arago™}} |10 |37¢ |
| Northeast Deciduous Forest
|March 3, 2005 |url =http://arago.si.edu/index.asp?con=1&cmd=1&mode=1&tid=2046158 |title =Northeast Deciduous Forest |accessdate =2013-05-14 |publisher =National Postal Museum, Arago™}} |10 |37¢ |
| Southern Florida Wetland[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ztgyAAAAIBAJ&sjid=GfAFAAAAIBAJ&dq=nature%20of%20america%20series&pg=1315%2C70823 Scores of new postage stamps] Moscow-Pullman Daily News - Dec 1, 2005
|October 5, 2006 |url =http://arago.si.edu/index.asp?con=1&cmd=1&mode=1&tid=2046698 |title =Southern Florida Wetland |accessdate =2013-05-14 |publisher =National Postal Museum, Arago™}} |10 |39¢ |
| Alpine Tundra
|August 28, 2007 |Estes Park, Colorado{{cite web |url =http://arago.si.edu/index.asp?con=1&cmd=1&mode=1&tid=2047780 |title =Alpine Tundra |accessdate =2013-05-14 |publisher =National Postal Museum, Arago™}} |10 |41¢ |Sennett Security Products[https://about.usps.com/postal-bulletin/2007/html/pb22212/info.4.12.html Stamp Announcement 07-37: Alpine Tundra] USPS Retrieved 22 July 2013 |
| Great Lakes Dunes
|October 2, 2008 |url =http://arago.si.edu/index.asp?con=1&cmd=1&mode=1&tid=2051317 |title =Great Lakes Dunes |accessdate =2013-05-14 |publisher =National Postal Museum, Arago™}} |10 |42¢ |
| Kelp Forest[https://archive.today/20130719044804/http://www.reuters.com/article/2009/09/30/idUS194323+30-Sep-2009+PRN20090930 National Stamp Collecting Month Starts With a 'Splash'] Reuters 30 September 2009
|October 1, 2009 |Monterey, California{{cite web |url=http://arago.si.edu/index.asp?con=1&cmd=1&mode=1&tid=2051808 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130626181249/http://arago.si.edu/index.asp?con=1&cmd=1&mode=1&tid=2051808 |url-status=dead |archive-date=2013-06-26 |title=Kelp Forest |accessdate=2013-05-14 |publisher=National Postal Museum, Arago™ }} |10 |44¢ |Avery Dennison[http://www.mysticstamp.com/viewProducts.asp?sku=4423 2009 44c Kelp Forest - Catalog # 4423] Mystic Stamp Co Retrieved 22 July 2013 |
| Hawaiian Rain Forest[http://www.nj.com/homegarden/index.ssf/2010/08/hawaiian_rain_forest_is_final.html Hawaiian Rain Forest is final stamp in nature series] New Jersey.com 19 August 2010
|September 1, 2010 |Hawaii National Park[http://about.usps.com/postal-bulletin/2010/pb22290/html/info_004.htm Stamp Announcement 10-22: Nature of America: Hawaiian Rain Forest] USPS Retrieved 22 July 2013 |10 |44¢ |
References and sources
;References
{{reflist|2}}
;Sources
- [http://www.usps.com/communications/newsroom/ USPS News Releases]
- [https://archive.today/20121202040636/http://community.livejournal.com/psk_stampindex/1982.html Nature of America - US stamp sheets]
{{Postage stamps of the United States}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Nature Of America}}