01/05/2009                                                                    Contact: Fred Baumann
Also available in pdf format

Stamps of Alaska Marks 50th Anniversary

On January 3, 2009, the U.S. Postal Service released a new 42-cent commemorative to celebrate the 50th anniversary of statehood for Alaska, “America’s Last Frontier.” In conjunction with that anniversary, the American Philatelic Society is pleased to offer a new 15-page Stamps of Alaska album. The album was created to promote the hobby to adult and juvenile beginners who have an interest in the history of the Land of the Midnight Sun. In addition, text on the rear cover promotes the Alaska Collectors’ Club as well as APS AmeriStamp Expo/Texpex 2009 February 20-22 at the Arlington Convention Center in Arlington, Texas. (Learn more about AmeriStamp Expo/Texpex 2009.)

The mini-album showcases United States stamps that are related to the Alaska’s distinctive history and geography, its people, plants and animals. Created for free use in the public domain — with generous permission from Scott Publishing Co. to use its copyrighted catalogue numbers — it is available as a pdf file that can be viewed or downloaded and printed.

The album has spaces for 59 stamps including a 10-stamp Nature of America pane. Facing pages of text describe how the issues relate to the Alaska, from the arrival of the earliest peoples in this continent via the Bering Land Bridge as the last ice age ended to the state’s modern prosperity tied to its mineral wealth.

Pages include “Alaska Prehistory and Early History,” “The Alaska Purchase & Gold Rush Days,” “Alaska from U.S. Territory to 49th State,” “More Alaskan History and Geography,” “Alaska Flora and Fauna,” and “More Alaskan Wildlife.” A blank “Alaska” page with a matching border is also available at the end of the album, which collectors may use as they choose, including printing multiple copies they can use to mount First Day Covers or Alaska postmarks.

The earliest stamp is the perforated 1909 2¢ Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition commemorative (Scott 370). The most recent is the 42¢ Alaska 50th Anniversary commemorative issued this week. Famous people with an Alaska connection on stamps in the album include two U.S. Presidents, explorers Captain James Cook and Adolphus W. Greely, William Seward, Wyatt Earp, John Muir, Jack London, and Billy Mitchell.

The album is not exhaustive. It was created with places and text for affordable U.S. issues, to appeal to beginners and interested non-collectors, including teachers, scouts and students, as well as general collectors who have an interest in the history of the state. The 2009 Scott catalogue value of all items needed to fill every space is $43.95 mint, and just $22.00 cancelled.

The Stamps of Alaska album is number 5 in a series, following albums for North Carolina, Connecticut, Texas, and Arizona. All of these along with other APS albums are available to be viewed or downloaded and printed. Future albums are planned in conjunction with 2009–2011 APS shows in Pennsylvania, Virginia, California, South Carolina, and Ohio.

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