U.S. Postal Service Issued Aurora Stamps

U.S. Newswire, October, 2007

To: NATIONAL EDITORS

Contact: Leisha Palmore-Drummond of USPS, 1-202-268-2191, cell: 1-202-258-1788, leisha.i.palmore-drummond@usps.gov

Issue Highlights Role of Global Polar Research

Note: To obtain a 300 dpi image of the stamp visit: http:// www.usps.com/communications/newsroom/2007stamps/downloadcenter.htm.>WASHINGTON, Oct. 1 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The U.S. Postal Service Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President H. Glen Walker were on hand at the Smithsonian National Postal Museum today to dedicate a series of stamps meant to draw attention to the global role of polar scientific research.

The two 41-cent Polar Lights stamps feature the aurora borealis and the aurora australis, or the northern and southern lights, meteorological phenomena that have been part of human folklore since the dawn of history. Today, the polar auroras are the subject of scientific investigation as part of the International Polar Year, a multinational research program that will focus on the Artic and Antarctic until March 2009.

Beyond their obvious beauty, these stamps also carry a message, said Walker. Just as it is our privilege to enjoy the wonders of nature, it is also our duty to preserve and protect these wonders.

Making remarks during the First-Day-of-Issue ceremony were Allen Kane, director of the Smithsonian National Postal Museum, and Cheryl Ganz, the museums acting chief curator for philately. The Smithsonian National Postal Museum is very pleased to host the First-Day-of- Issue ceremony for the Polar Lights stamps, said Kane. U.S. postage stamps tell the story of the nations history, heroes and heritage. The National Postal Museum brings these stories to life through its exhibits and programs.

The Postal Service produced 80 million of the stamps in panes of 20 which were designed by Falls Church, VA-based artist Phil Jordan. Jordan joined other honored guests including the Honorable Ted Stevens, Senator, state of Alaska; LeRoy Zimmerman, photographer for selvage; and Yverne (Pat) Moore, Postmaster, Washington, DC.

The photograph of the northern lights is the work of Fred Hirschmann of Wasilla, Alaska; the photograph of the southern lights is by German photographer Per-Andre Hoffmann.

Starting Oct. 1, the Polar Lights stamps can be purchased online at the Postal Store at www.usps.com/shop, by calling toll-free 800- STAMP-24, at philatelic centers nationwide and at local Post Offices.

Please Note: For broadcast quality video and audio, photo stills and other media resources, visit the USPS Newsroom at http:// www.usps.com/news.>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 worlds mail.

Polar Lights Backgrounder

Oct. 1, 2007, the U.S. Postal Service will issue this pane of 20 41-cent stamps with two designs that feature photographs of the polar lights, often known as auroras.

The polar lights are a luminous glow seen in the night sky at high latitudes surrounding the north and south magnetic poles. These auroras are the result of a magnetic storm -- when Earths magnetic field is unusually active due to a dynamic interaction with the Sun. During magnetic storms, energetic electrons descend from space and collide with molecules in the upper atmosphere, leading to the emission of green and sometimes red light. Auroras come in different visual forms, including arcs, curtains and rays, and are a relatively common sight in Alaska, Canada and northern Europe. During particularly intense magnetic storms, auroras can occasionally be seen in some of the lower 48 states as well.

Aurora is the Latin name of the ancient Roman goddess of the dawn. The aurora borealis are the northern lights, and the aurora australis are the southern lights. Through history, auroras have inspired a colorful folklore, especially among northern Europeans and the Inuit people of Siberia and North America, where the lights have been attributed to human or animal spirits and have sometimes been thought to foretell ominous news. Today, the aurora is the subject of scientific investigation, with researchers from many countries collaborating during International Polar Year 2007-2008.

The two designs on this pane of 20 stamps feature photographs of auroras. The photograph of the aurora borealis, the northern lights, was made by Fred Hirschmann of Wasilla, AK. It shows the northern lights over the Talkeetna Mountains in Alaska. The photograph of the aurora australis, a phenomenon of the southern polar region, was made by Per-Andre Hoffmann of Stuttgart, Germany who resides in Manila, Philippines.

The header image on the pane of stamps is a photograph of the aurora borealis by LeRoy Zimmerman of Ester, AK. Phil Jordan of Falls Church, VA, was artistic designer.

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