PHOENIX, AZ — The “Grand Canyon State” today was commemorated on a new Forever Stamp by the United States Postal Service, marking the state’s 100th anniversary. The Arizona Statehood Forever Stamp officially goes on sale today at Post Offices, online at usps.com and by phone at 800-782-6724. “

Today, we are here to celebrate Arizona’s centennial as our country’s 48th state and the last of the contiguous states to enter the union of the United States of America,” said John Edgar, vice president, Information Technology, U.S. Postal Service.

“In this small way, the Postal Service has created a lasting tribute to Arizona, and we are proud and honored to share its rich history, heritage, arts, culture and geography with Americans everywhere through this stamp,” Edgar said.

The stamp features artwork by Ed Mell, a native of Phoenix. Well known for his distinctive modernist renderings of the Southwest desert landscape, Mell applies this approach to his portrayal of Cathedral Rock, one of the colorful and much admired sandstone rock formations of Sedona, Arizona.

Customers may view the Arizona Statehood Forever Stamp, as well as many of this year’s other stamps, on Facebook at facebook.com/USPSStamps, through Twitter @USPSstamps or on the website Beyond the Perf at beyondtheperf.com/2012-preview. Beyond the Perf is the Postal Service’s online site for background on upcoming stamp subjects, first-day-of-issue events and other philatelic news.

How to Order First-Day Covers
The Postal Service also offers first-day covers for new stamp issues and Postal Service stationery items postmarked with the official first-day-of-issue cancellation. Each item has an individual catalog number and is offered in the quarterly USA Philatelic catalog. Customers may request a free catalog by calling 800-STAMP-24 or writing to:

Information Fulfillment
Dept. 6270
U.S. Postal Service
P.O. Box 219014
Kansas City, MO 64121-9014

Philatelic Products
There are four philatelic products available for this stamp issue:

•     468461, First-Day Cover, $.89.

•     468465, Digital Color Postmark, $1.60.

•     468491, Ceremony Program, $6.95.

•     468499, Cancellation Keepsake (Digital Color Postmark w/Pane), $10.95.

The Postal Service receives no tax dollars for operating expenses and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations.

source: USPS