The U.S. Postal Service is set to issue new Forever stamps, dubbed Autumn Colors, highlighting the vibrant hues of fall. This release coincides with the Great American Stamp Show, slated for August 16 at the Connecticut Convention Center in Hartford, CT.
The first-day-of-issue event, which starts at 11 a.m. EDT, is open to the public at no charge. Heather Dyer, USPS Vice President and Chief Information Security Officer, will spearhead the event. Attendees are encouraged to RSVP via the USPS website at usps.com/autumncolors.
The Autumn Colors stamps showcase the seasonal transformation in the United States, where the fall rivals spring in its breathtaking beauty. The new stamps feature a selection of ten photographs by the late Allen Rokach, capturing the essence of fall with a palette ranging from golden ochres to flaming vermilions. These images, taken with Rokach’s signature “impressionistic cast,” provide a vivid glimpse into the season’s canvas.
As the days shorten and summer’s warmth wanes, the biochemical processes within trees slow down, leading to the cessation of chlorophyll production. This shift allows the hidden yellow and orange carotenoids and the vibrant red and purple anthocyanins to emerge, painting the landscape with rich autumnal colors.
These natural processes are depicted in the pane of 20 stamps, each symbolizing the enduring allure of fall, from New England’s famed foliage to the golden aspens of Aspen, CO. The stamps are designed by USPS art director Ethel Kessler using Rokach’s existing photographs.
As Forever stamps, the Autumn Colors stamps will retain their value equivalent to the current First-Class Mail one-ounce rate, regardless of future price changes.
This initiative not only celebrates the seasonal beauty but also aims to enhance the appreciation for nature’s cyclic transformations, immortalized through philately.
