Thursday, October 26, 2006
Ella Fitzgerald will be the Black Heritage honoree.
WASHINGTON (AP) -- A man who had a wonderful life, went to Washington and later was accompanied by a giant white rabbit will be a highlight of the Postal Service's new commemorative postage stamps for 2007.
James Stewart will be featured on the 13th Legends of Hollywood stamp.
The actor, who took time out to become a decorated hero in World War II, appeared in more than 80 movies including starring roles in "It's a Wonderful Life," "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington" and "Harvey."
Black Heritage
Next year's honoree in the Black Heritage series will be Ella Fitzgerald, widely known as the first lady of song for her great vocal range, flexibility and the joy and excitement she brought to music.
As usual, a Love stamp will mark Valentine's Day. This year it features the famed Hershey's kiss candy, introduced in 1907 and still popular.
Since Valentine romance can be followed by marriage, there will be special wedding stamps decorated with heart-shaped vines.
So, does all that lead to the new birds and bees stamps?
Not exactly. These stamps call attention to the important service such creatures perform in pollinating plants. The set of four will feature hummingbirds, bumble bees, a butterfly and a bat.
From comic book heroes like Hulk and Spiderman to the beautiful northern lights and stately lighthouses, there's something for just about everyone planned for next year's stamps.
Among those scheduled:
*The centennial of Oklahoma's statehood, featuring a painting of a sunrise over the Cimarron River. Oklahoma became the 46th state Nov. 16, 1907.
*The International Polar Year 2007-08 features stamps of the aurora borealis -- the northern lights -- and their southern counterpart, the aurora australis. These stamps will be issued in two denominations, one at the first-class rate and the second at the rate for international mail.
*Poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow becomes the 23rd person honored in the Literary Arts series.
*Is it 400 years already? The 1607 establishment of America's first permanent English settlement in Jamestown, Va., will be commemorated.
*The Alpine Tundra will be displayed in a 10-stamp set displaying 24 plant and animal species.
*Five Pacific lighthouses will be honored: Diamond Head Light in Hawaii, Five Finger Light in Alaska, Grays Harbor Light in Washington, Umpqua River Light in Oregon and St. George Reef Light in Northern California.
*Ten Marvel superheroes will be on display. They are Captain America, Elektra, Iron Man, Silver Surfer, Spider-Man, Spider-Woman, Sub-Mariner, The Incredible Hulk, The Thing and Wolverine.
*Artist Louis Comfort Tiffany.
*Four vintage mahogany speedboats -- a 1915 Hutchinson Brothers launch, a 1931 Gar Wood triple cockpit runabout, a 1939 Hacker-Craft, and a 1954 Chris-Craft Racing Runabout.
*The art of magic stamps featuring Disney characters Dumbo and Timothy Mouse, Peter Pan and Tinker Bell, Mickey Mouse as "The Sorcerer's Apprentice," and Aladdin and Genie.
*A commemorative calling attention to the importance of jury duty.
*The 60th anniversary of the Mendez v. Westminster School District ruling saying school districts could not segregate on the basis of national origin.
*Holiday knits, including a deer a snow-dappled evergreen tree, a snowman sporting a top hat and a teddy bear.
*"The Madonna of the Carnation," by Italian Renaissance painter Bernardino Luini.
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