New Forever Stamp Honors American Artist Edward Hopper

News provided by

Aug 24, 2011, 10:59 ET

'The Long Leg' Painting Stamp Is 10th in American Treasures Series

PROVINCETOWN, Mass., Aug. 24, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Today, the U.S. Postal Service forged ahead with its American Treasures series by issuing the 10th entry, a Forever Stamp featuring Edward Hopper's sailboat painting, "The Long Leg." Hopper's 1935 sunlit painting depicts a boat sailing against the wind near Provincetown, MA. The new Forever Stamp is on sale now in Post Offices nationwide, online at usps.com and by calling 800-782-6724.

"What better way for us to celebrate our culture, heritage and history than through the diversity of designs that capture the spirit and creativity of this nation," said Maura Robinson, vice president, Pricing, who dedicated the stamp at the Pilgrim Monument and Provincetown Museum. "The American Treasures series is intended to do just that. And, if someone were ever to be called an American treasure, it would be artist Edward Hopper," added Robinson.

Inaugurated in 2001 with the Amish Quilts stamp pane, the American Treasures series showcases works of American fine arts and crafts.

Known as a painter of loneliness, isolation and solitude, Hopper was born in Nyack, N.Y., July 22, 1882.

Joining Robinson to dedicate "The Long Leg" Edward Hopper stamp were Randy Price, news anchor, WCVB-TV; the Provincetown Police Department Honor Guard; Austin Knight, Provincetown Selectman; Charles Silva, board president, Cape Cod Pilgrim Memorial Association; James R. Bakker, executive director, Pilgrim Monument and Provincetown Museum; Massachusetts State Sen. Daniel A. Wolf (Cape and Islands); Massachusetts State Representative Sarah K. Peake (4th Barnstable District); Sue Moynihan, chief of Interpretation and Cultural Resources Management, Cape Cod National Seashore; Sharon Lynn, Provincetown Town Manager; and Charles K. Lynch, Greater Boston district manager, U.S. Postal Service.

Ordering First-Day-of-Issue Postmarks

Customers have 60 days to obtain the first-day-of-issue postmark by mail. They may purchase new stamps at local Post Offices, at The Postal Store website at usps.com/shop or by calling 800-STAMP-24. They should affix the stamps to envelopes of their choice, address the envelopes to themselves or others, and place them in larger envelopes addressed to:

Edward Hopper Stamp
Postmaster
Provincetown, MA 02657-9998

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 Oct. 24, 2011.

Ordering First-Day Covers

The Postal Service 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:

Edward Hopper Stamp
Postmaster
Provincetown, MA 02657-9998

Philatelic Products

There are four philatelic products available for this stamp issue:

467661, First-Day Cover, $0.88
467665, Digital Color Postmark, $1.60
467691, Ceremony Program, $6.95
467699, Cancellation Keepsake (Digital Color Postmark w/Pane), $10.95

To learn more about the Postal Service's Stamp Program and upcoming stamp dedication ceremonies, visit beyondtheperf.com.

The Postal Service receives no tax dollars for operating expenses and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations.

We're everywhere so you can be anywhere: uspseverywhere.com

A self-supporting government enterprise, the U.S. Postal Service is the only delivery service that reaches every address in the nation, 150 million residences, businesses and Post Office Boxes. The Postal Service receives no tax dollars for operating expenses, and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations. With 32,000 retail locations and the most frequently visited website in the federal government, usps.com, the Postal Service has annual revenue of more than $67 billion and delivers nearly 40 percent of the world's mail. If it were a private sector company, the U.S. Postal Service would rank 29th in the 2010 Fortune 500. Black Enterprise and Hispanic Business magazines ranked the Postal Service as a leader in workforce diversity. The Postal Service has been named the Most Trusted Government Agency six consecutive years and the sixth Most Trusted Business in the nation by the Ponemon Institute.

SOURCE U.S. Postal Service