Rock on: Rushmore to grace postal stamp again

By Andrew Gorder, Journal staff | Thursday, June 12, 2008

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For the fourth time in its history, the image of Mount Rushmore National Memorial is being preserved by the United States Postal Service, but this time, it’s no ordinary postage stamp.

The new $4.80 Priority Mail Mount Rushmore Stamp was officially issued June 6, but a Special Cancellation Ceremony marking the first day the stamp goes on sale will be held from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday at Mount Rushmore’s Grand View Terrace.

The event is free and open to the public.

“It’s not about the Postal Service, it’s about Mount Rushmore,” United States Postal Service District Regional Manager Dolly Lund said. “Every stamp tells a story, and this stamp is about history.”

The stamp was designed by Carl T. Herrman of Carlsbad, Calif., and features an original drawing of Mount Rushmore by artist Dan Cosgrove of Chicago.

Priority Mail stamps are bought at a flat rate and are generally used to send larger envelopes and packages under one pound without having to purchase overnight service, according to the USPS.

Today’s ceremony offers a chance to honor the memorial, but it is also a unique opportunity for stamp collectors, Lund said.

Lund said the USPS has issued only 100 special caches of the Mount Rushmore Priority Stamp that feature a No. 10 envelope with a print of Mount Rushmore on it.

Collectors have only 30 days after the issue date to get their hands on one of the special caches, Lund said.

“Several stamp collectors have contacted us already,” she said.

The ceremony will also feature speeches from Acting Chief of Interpretation at Mount Rushmore Pam Koenig, Abraham Lincoln impersonator Fritz Klein and USPS District Manager Clem Felchle.

“It’s very nice honor for the people in this area and for the people of South Dakota,” Lund said.

The Mount Rushmore Priority Stamps are available for purchase in post offices, at www.usps.com and by calling 1-800-STAMP-24 (800-782-6724).

If you go

What: Special Cancellation Ceremony celebrating the Mount Rushmore Priority Stamp

Where: Mount Rushmore National Memorial Grand View Terrace

When: 1 p.m.-5 p.m., today

Cost: Admission is free, but there is a $10 parking fee per vehicle

Rushmore stamps

The Mount Rushmore priority stamp is the fourth stamp to feature the monument. Mount Rushmore was also featured in:

1952-3 cent stamp

1974-26 cent stamp

1991-29 cent stamp