CRESCENT CITY, CA — A treasured wonder of the American landscape will be celebrated Jan. 16 when the U.S. Postal Service dedicates the $4.95 Redwood Forest (Priority Mail) definitive stamp at Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park, Hiouchi, CA, just Northeast of Crescent City. The First Day of Sale Ceremony will take place at the day use area of the park at 1:30 p.m. and is open to the public.

The 2009 Priority Mail stamp, paying tribute to America’s redwood forests, depicts two people walking through a forest of redwood trees. The stamp is a digital illustration produced by stamp artist Dan Cosgrove of Clarendon Hills, IL, under the direction of art director Carl T. Herrman of Carlsbad, CA. Cosgrove also illustrated the 2009 Express Mail stamp, which depicts Yellowstone National Park’s Old Faithful.

“The U.S. Postal Service is proud to be honoring the redwood forests through the release of the 2009 Priority Mail Stamp,” said Crescent City Postmaster Susan Vargas, who will be dedicating the stamp. “We are especially excited that we are holding the ceremony surrounded by the majestic beauty the stamp depicts.”

The stamps are being issued at new prices that go into effect Jan. 18 for Express Mail and Priority Mail. Some other USPS package and international shipping prices also change on Jan. 18. However, prices for mailing services, including First-Class Mail stamps, will be announced in February and will be effective in May. For more details on 2009 pricing, go to: usps.com/prices (click “New Shipping Prices” box). The new Priority and Express Mail stamps will be available for sale nationwide on Jan. 16.

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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. 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 world’s mail.