WASHINGTON, DC — What do Bette Davis, “Take Me Out to the Ball Game,” and Latin jazz have in common? They’re some of the subjects recognized in the Postal Service’s 2008 stamp program.
The 2008 stamp program recognizes a range of subjects as diverse as America itself, from the Chinese Lunar New Year celebrated in Chinatowns all over the country, to 20th century movie icons and literary figures, to the flags of our states and territories.
Flags of Our Nation
In mid-June, the first of this multiyear series of 60 stamps will begin to wave across the counters of the nation’s 37,000 Post Offices.
The series highlights the Stars and Stripes, 50 state flags, five territorial flags, and the District of Columbia flag.
Celebrating Lunar New Year: Year of the Rat
The 2008 commemorative stamp program launches in early January by celebrating the Chinese Lunar New Year with the issuance of the Celebrating Lunar New Year: Year of the Rat stamp.
Charles W. Chesnutt
Later in January, the 31st stamp in the Black Heritage series honors Charles W. Chesnutt, a pioneering writer recognized today as a major innovator and singular voice among turn-of-the-century literary realists who probed the color line in American life.
Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings
Best known for her Pulitzer Prize-winning novel The Yearling and her memoir Cross Creek, Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings will be commemorated on Feb. 21 at the site of her Cross Creek, FL, home.
American Scientists
Some of the most impressive scientific achievements of the 20th century will be recognized in April when the American Scientists stamps are issued. The series honors four scientists:
•Theoretical physicist John Bardeen (1908-1991) co-invented the transistor, arguably the most important invention of the 20th century.
•Biochemist Gerty Cori (1896-1957), in collaboration with her husband Carl, made important discoveries that later became the basis for our knowledge of how cells use food and convert it into energy.
•Astronomer Edwin Hubble (1889-1953) played a pivotal role in deciphering the vast and complex nature of the universe.
•Structural chemist Linus Pauling (1901-1994) determined the nature of the chemical bond linking atoms into molecules.
American Journalists
Five journalists who risked their lives reporting some of the most important events of the 20th century receive their stamp of approval in April. The five stamps honor:
•Martha Gellhorn (1908-1998) covered the Spanish Civil War, World War II and the Vietnam War in a long career that broke new ground for women.
•John Hersey (1914-1993) was a versatile writer whose most famous work, Hiroshima, describes what happened when the United States dropped an atomic bomb on the Japanese city that gave the work its title.
•George Polk (1913-1948) was a talented young CBS radio correspondent who filed hard-hitting radio bulletins from Greece describing the strife that erupted there after World War II.
•Ruben Salazar (1928-1970) was the first Mexican-American journalist to have a major voice in mainstream news media.
•Eric Sevareid (1912-1992) was a writer for the New York Herald Tribune and later a broadcast journalist for CBS radio recruited by Edward R. Murrow
•Fred Otnes of West Redding, CT, worked under the guidance of Howard Paine of Delaplane, VA, to illustrate the stamp pane.
Mount St. Mary’s University Stamped Card
In late April, the 200th anniversary of the founding of Mount St. Mary’s University will be celebrated with a stamped postal card issued on the Emmitsburg, MD, campus.
Frank Sinatra
The Postal Service honors Frank Sinatra (1915-1998), an Oscar-winning actor and a supreme interpreter of American popular song.
Wedding Hearts
In 2008, the U.S. Postal Service will reissue the designs of the two 2007 Wedding Hearts stamps featuring vines that form the shape of a heart.
Minnesota Statehood
The 150th-year celebration of Minnesota statehood will be commemorated in May on a stamp bearing a photograph by Richard Hamilton Smith of Park Rapids, MN and designed by Ethel Kessler of Bethesda, MD.
Love: All Heart
In 1973, the U.S. Postal Service issued the first stamp in its popular Love series.
Bette Davis
Film diva Bette Davis becomes the 14th inductee into the Legends of Hollywood series on the 100th anniversary of the year of her birth.
Vintage Black Cinema
Vivid reminders of a bygone era will be celebrated in June through Vintage Black Cinema stamps based on five vintage movie posters. They are:
•The 1921 silent film The Sport of the Gods.
•The 1929 film Black and Tan.
•Princess Tam-Tam, a French film issued in 1935.
•1929’s Hallelujah.
•The 1945 short Caldonia.
The Art of Disney: Imagination
With the help of some of Walt Disney’s famous animated characters, these four stamps will be available:
•Mickey Mouse as Steamboat Willie.
•Princess Aurora and her helpers Flora, Fauna and Merryweather from Sleeping Beauty.
•Pongo and one of his pups from 101 Dalmatians.
•Mowgli and Baloo from The Jungle Book.
Olympic Games
This July, the Postal Service continues its tradition of honoring the spirit of athleticism and international unity inspired by the Olympic Games.
Take Me Out to the Ball Game
One of the most popular baseball songs of all time, “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” celebrates its 100th anniversary in 2008 on postage late next summer.
Charles and Ray Eames
In recognition of their groundbreaking contributions to architecture, furniture design, manufacturing and photographic arts, designers Charles and Ray Eames will be honored next summer with a pane of 16 stamps designed by Derry Noyes of Washington, DC.
American Treasures: Albert Bierstadt
Add the beauty of Yosemite to your mail with the eighth issuance in the American Treasures series next August.
Latin Jazz
The rich musical heritage of Latin jazz is celebrated on a stamp being released in August featuring a bold, graphic design by San Francisco-based artist — and Latin jazz fan — Michael Bartalos.
Alzheimer’s Awareness
Extra attention will be paid to the most common form of dementia among older people in September when the Postal Service issues the Alzheimer’s Awareness stamp.
Nature of America: Great Lakes Dunes
The 10th issuance in the Nature of America educational series — Great Lakes Dunes — illustrates the beauty and complexity of another major plant and animal community in the United States.
All of the species and their interactions are appropriate and were recommended by scientists.
To see the stamps, visit: http://www.usps.com/communications/newsroom/2007/sr07_084.htm
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