The U.S. Postal Service on Friday celebrated California's 150th anniversary of statehood with a commemorative issued in Sacramento.
Part of the "Statehood" series, the new 33-cent stamp was dedicated at a ceremony during California's three-day Admission Day 2000 event on the steps of the state's Capitol Building.
"With the issuance of the California Statehood stamp, we believe all Americans will be pleased with the portrayal of our 31st state in this miniature work of art," said Deborah Willhite, USPS senior vice president for government relations and public policy.
"Californians are proud of our state's great heritage and enthusiastic about our 150th birthday celebration," said Gov. Gray Davis. The commemorative "is a magnificent addition to our Celebrating California lineup and a fitting tribute to the spectacular beauty our state offers. We thank the Postal Service for giving us such a wonderful keepsake of this year's festivities."
The California sesquicentennial commemorative is sold in panes of 20 vertical self-adhesive stamps; 53 million are being printed.
On Feb. 2, 1848, Mexico and the United States signed a pact ending the Mexican War. As part of the peace treaty, Mexico agreed to cede a vast portion of the Southwest, including present-day California, to the United States.
Several days earlier, on Jan. 24, 1848, gold had been discovered at Sutter's Mill on the American River near Sacramento. The ensuing gold rush hastened the territory's admittance to the Union. California became the 31st state on Sept. 9, 1850.
The stamp art features a color photograph of cliffs at the southern end of California's Big Sur coastline, just south of Ragged Point. Ice plants, whose glistening cells look like ice crystals, are blooming in the foreground. The photograph was taken in May 1966 by Art Wolfe of Seattle.
His photos are renowned for their mastery of color, composition and perspective. His unique approach to nature photography is based on his training in the arts and his love of the environment. Wolfe was chosen "1993 Outstanding Nature Photographer of the Year" by the North American Nature Photography Association and "1996 Photographer of the Year" by Photo Media magazine.
Customers desiring first-day cancellations may purchase their California stamps at a post office and affix them to self-addressed envelopes. Place these in a larger envelope for mailing by Oct. 8 to: "California Statehood Commemorative Stamp," Postmaster, 2000 Royal Oaks Drive, Sacramento, CA 95813-9991
Richard Carr can be reached at rcarr@sun-sentinel.com.