Alaska Statehood Stamp Features Iditarod Musher

50th Anniversary stamp highlights the Last Great Race on Earth

WASHINGTON, Jan. 3 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The spirit of Alaska and its
colorful past were celebrated today when the U.S. Postal Service issued the
50th Anniversary Alaska Statehood commemorative stamp in the Discovery
Ballroom of The Captain Cook Hotel in Anchorage, AK. The stamps went on sale
nationwide today.
In celebration of Alaska's past, with the treaty ratification with Russia
on April 9, 1867, the purchase and transfer to the United States on Oct. 18,
1867, to it becoming an official U.S. territory in 1912, and the 49th state on
Jan. 3, 1959, Alaska remains "the last frontier." The name of the state
derives from an Aleut word meaning "great land."
"The stamp is emblematic of the State of Alaska, and one of which we can
all be very proud," said Dianne Horbochuk, USPS district manager for customer
service in Alaska.
Joining Horbochuk in today's stamp dedication were Alaska Governor Sarah
Palin (R), United States Senator Lisa Murkowski (R), stamp photographer Jeff
Schultz and KTUU Chief Meteorologist Jackie Purcell, Channel 2, NBC News who
acted as master of ceremonies.
"We are so pleased to work with the United States Postal Service in
presenting a design that most certainly displays what Alaska is all about,"
said Governor Palin. "As we celebrate our Golden Anniversary of statehood we
are mindful of our pioneers who came before us to make the path to statehood.
This statehood stamp stands for the courage and determination of our
statesmen, the strength and resilience of our people and the promise of a
bright future for all Alaskans."
The stamp features Jeff Schultz's photograph of a dog musher taken during
the 2000 Iditarod. Fifteen degrees above zero, Schultz was 75 miles from the
nearest town following the trail along the Rainey Pass just as the dog sled
team raced across the foreground. Unlike any other race in the world, Iditarod
competitors traverse more than 1,150 miles of the most extreme and beautiful
terrain known to man to include mountain ranges, frozen rivers, dense forests,
desolate tundra and windswept coastline.
Today, much of Alaska consists of parks, forests, and wildlife refuges
managed by the federal government. The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge
encompasses more than 19 million acres in northeastern Alaska, while 23
million acres of northern Alaska comprise the National Petroleum Reserve.
Although around 80 percent of state revenue derives from petroleum extraction,
other vital Alaskan industries include seafood, mining, timber, oil and gas,
and tourism. The state is also home to important military bases
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 The Postal Store Web site at
www.usps.com/shop, by calling 800-STAMP-24 or by visiting a local Post Office.
Customers 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:
Alaska Statehood Stamp
Station Manager
344 3rd Avenue
Anchorage, AK 99501-2713

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 March 4, 2009.
How to Order the Alaska Statehood 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
US Postal Service
PO Box 219014
Kansas City MO 64121-9014

Philatelic Products
There are four philatelic products available for the Alaska Statehood
stamp issue: 464161 First-Day Cover, 80 cents
464165, Digital Color Postmark, $1.50
464191 Ceremony Program, $6.95
464199 Digital Color Postmark Keepsake, $9.90

An independent federal agency, the U.S. Postal Service is the only
delivery service that reaches 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, not tax dollars, to pay for
operating expenses. The Postal Service has annual revenue of $75 billion and
delivers nearly half the world's mail.
SOURCE U.S. Postal Service

Nancy Ross of USPS, +1-202-268-3251, cell: +1-202-746-8879,
nancy.b.ross@usps.gov