ocean | USPS Stamp of Approval

Great news, stamp fans! The previously issued Sailboat stamped cards are now available in packs of four!

The new format was issued earlier this morning at the American Topical Association’s National Topical Stamp Show in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

These 2012 Sailboat (Forever®) stamped cards highlight the scenic beauty of America’s waterways by featuring an oil painting of a moored sailboat. Artist Burton Silverman based the oil painting on a photograph he took during a summer sailing trip to Long Island Sound. Beautiful!

The 35-cent Sailboat stamped card is being issued at the Forever® postcard rate. It will always be equal to the value of the postcard rate in effect at the time of use.

We are really loving National Wildlife Week around here! Today we’re focusing on the bottlenose dolphin, a marine mammal noted for its high intelligence and playful behavior. Found mainly in temperate and tropical waters, bottlenose dolphins live in groups ranging in size from two to several hundred. They can often be seen from shore and by boaters and appear to engage in play with other dolphins. Their mostly gray bodies are large and stout, with short, broad snouts. The corners of their mouths curve up, giving the appearance of a permanent smile (so cute!).

This stamp features an illustration by Nancy Stahl of a bottlenose dolphin leaping from the water. Stahl has created illustrations for several stamps, including the Dragonfly (2008) and Florida Panther (2007). She used several photographs of bottlenose dolphins as reference for the art.

The Dolphin stamp was first issued in 2009 and reprinted in 2011 (you can still order it online).