LAS VEGAS — The U.S. Postal Service celebrated Nevada statehood today by dedicating a Forever Stamp to commemorate its 150th anniversary. Known by several nicknames — the Silver State, the Battle Born State, the Sagebrush State — Nevada became the 36th state Oct. 31, 1864.
“Nevada is truly one of our nation’s most beautiful treasures,” said former Nevada Congressman and current U.S. Postal Service Board of Governors Vice Chairman James Bilbray. “With so much to choose from, it was difficult to decide on an image the size of a postage stamp to adequately depict Nevada’s revered beauty and history. We chose to feature the Fire Canyon in Nevada’s first state park, the Valley of Fire.”
The First-Day-of-Issue dedication ceremony took place at the Smith Center for Performing Arts in Las Vegas where Bilbray was joined by Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval; Nevada Lt. Gov. Brian Krolicki; Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV); Sen. Dean Heller (R-NV); Nevada Sesquicentennial Honorary Poet Waddie Mitchell; Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe; College of Southern Nevada Professor of Social Sciences Dr. Michael Green and Nevada Statehood stamp artist Ron Spears in dedicating the stamp. Also participating was The Smith Center President and CEO Myron Martin.
The Nevada Statehood Forever Stamp is available at Post Offices, online at usps.com/stamps, at the Postal Store on eBay at ebay.com/stamps, and by calling 800-STAMP24 (800-782-6724).
The Story Behind the Stamp
Bilbray said artist Ron Spears of Reno created his first sketches for the stamp on-site in Fire Canyon.
Spears’ original sketches were oils on canvas. The final painting, in oil, measures approximately 15 x 12 inches.
Customers may view many of this year’s other stamps on Facebook facebook.com/USPSStamps, Twitter @USPSstamps, Pinterest pinterest.com/uspsstamps, Instagram instagram.com/uspostalservice or on uspsstamps.com, the Postal Service’s online site for information on upcoming stamp subjects, first-day-of-issue events and other philatelic news.
