HAYWARD, CA — October is National Stamp Collecting Month, and the Hayward Post Office, 24438 Santa Clara Ave, Hayward CA 94544, has created a pictorial postmark for the iconic photo of the Hayward salt evaporation pond that is part of the newest Earthscapes stamps series. Berkeley photographer Barrie Rokeach took the photo of the salt evaporation ponds over South San Francisco Bay that was selected as one of the 15 Earthscapes stamps recently released by the U.S. Postal Service.

Rokeach will be on hand at the Hayward Post Office on Monday, Oct. 1, from 10 a.m. to noon as part of the pictorial postmark event. Earthscapes stamps and prints will be available for sale. The special pictorial postmark created for the day is free.

Salt is harvested from seawater in evaporation ponds near San Francisco, California. As natural evaporation occurs, salinity levels increase and the concentrations of algae and other microorganisms in the water change, causing the ponds to take on vivid colors. “As the water evaporates, the colors evolve into unpredictable shapes, shades and hues, replacing the monotone blues,” said Rokeach. “I’ve followed these articulations of visual language over many years, decades, and always find inspiration in this interplay between industry and nature.”

Customers may view the Earthscapes Forever stamps, as well as many of this year’s other stamps, indicate which stamps they like and vote for their favorite stamp on Facebook at facebook.com/USPSStamps, through Twitter @USPSstamps or on the website Beyond the Perf at beyondtheperf.com/2012-preview. Beyond the Perf is the Postal Service’s online site for background information on upcoming stamp subjects, first-day-of-issue events and other philatelic news. To obtain a high-resolution image of the stamp for media use only, email mark.r.saunders@usps.gov.

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