The U.S. Postal Service celebrates the centennial of the gift of more than 3,000 cherry blossom trees from the city of Tokyo to Washington, DC, by dedicating the Cherry Blossom Centennial Forever stamps at the National Cherry Blossom Festival today. All 100 million stamps are now available at Post Offices nationwide and online at www.usps.com/shop or by calling 1-800-STAMP24.
“These two new stamps pay tribute not only to the beauty and splendor of springtime, but to all that the cherry blossoms represent — a symbol of life’s transience, a celebration of being alive — and a welcome harbinger of spring,” said Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe in dedicating the stamps. “In this small way, the Postal Service has created a lasting tribute to the gift of cherry blossoms in Washington, DC, as well as the friendship between two nations that inspired that gift.”
Joining Donahoe in dedicating the stamps Ambassador of Japan Ichiro Fujisaki; National Cherry Blossom Festival Executive Director Diana Mahew; stamp artist Paul Rogers; and, National Building Museum Executive Director Chase Rynd. U.S. Postal Service Consumer and Industry Affairs Vice President Susan LaChance served as emcee.
“These Cherry Blossom trees were planted 100 years ago as a gift for generations to come,” said Ambassador Fujisaki. “And like the trees, these stamps and the stamps that Japan will issue next week will serve as a cherished gift for future generations.”
The se-tenant stamps — one scene across two stamps — picture cherry trees in full-bloom around the Tidal Basin. In the stamp on the left, trees arch over two girls dressed in bright kimonos and a family on a stroll with the Washington Monument in the background. On the second stamp, the Jefferson Memorial forms the backdrop for tourists taking in the sights under a canopy of pink blooms. Working with art director Phil Jordan of Falls Church, VA, artist Paul Rogers of Pasadena, CA, created the near-mirror stamp art images. Visit this link to get the back story on the stamps and preliminary sketches of the artwork.
A brief history of how the cherry trees came to Washington appears on the back of the stamp pane along with a modern translation by Emiko Miyashita and Michael Dylan Welch of a traditional, circa ninth-century poem written by Ki no Tomonori (c.850–c.904).
Other 2012 Stamps
Customers may view the Cherry Blossom Centennial Forever stamps as well as many of this year’s other stamps onFacebook at facebook.com/USPSStamps, through Twitter@USPSstamps or on the website Beyond the Perf at beyondtheperf.com/2012-preview
How to Order the First-Day-of-Issue Postmark
Customers have 60 days to obtain the first-day-of-issue postmark by mail. They may purchase new stamps at a local Post Office, at The Postal Store website at usps.com/shop or by calling 800-STAMP-24.