NEWHALL, CA — A First Day of Sale ceremony and stamp unveiling of the William S. Hart stamp will be held at The William S. Hart Park & Museum, 24151 Newhall Ave., Newhall CA 91321, on April 17, 2010, at 10 a.m. The ceremony is free and open to the public.

Hart (1864-1946) and three other extraordinary performers are being recognized on the Cowboys of the Silver Screen stamp set for their contributions in making the American Western a popular form of entertainment. Hart brought a powerful presence and serious approach to early Westerns and was one of the most popular leading men of the silent screen era.

Stamp artist Robert Rodriguez based the William S. Hart stamp on a vintage poster for Hart’s 1925 epic film Tumbleweeds. The other actors featured on the Cowboys of the Silver Screen stamp set are Tom Mix, Roy Rogers and Gene Autry.

The day’s events include the stamp unveiling at 10 a.m., free museum tours from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., free barnyard animal tours 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. and free children’s activities from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. The Cowboys of the Silver Screen stamps and postcards, as well as special commemorative merchandise, will be on sale from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. There will also be an official First Day of Sale postmark available for collectors.

This event is a joint effort by the U.S. Postal Service, the William S. Hart Park and Museum, Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, the Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation, and the Friends of Hart Park. For more information regarding the William S. Hart stamp unveiling ceremony and events, visit www.friendsofhartpark.org.

The Cowboys of the Silver Screen pane of 20 44-cent stamps can be pre-ordered now at usps.com. They will be available at Post Offices and also online starting April 17.

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