2009-10 Priority and Express Mail, collection of 4 stamps

4378//4439

2009-2010 Priority and Express Mail

Now you can save $34.40 on this 2009-2010 set of mint high-value Priority and Express Mail stamps. These stamps are missing from many U.S. collections.

2009 $4.95 Redwood Forest, Priority Mail

In 1828, Famed mountain man Jedediah Smith discovered the world’s largest living organisms, giant redwood trees that soar more than 30 stories into the sky and live for thousands of years.  Redwood forests are unique to the coastlines of California and Oregon.  Heavy fog, rain and ideal temperatures allow the species to thrive, creating a lush paradise that supports a variety of flora and fauna.  Thick vegetation and rugged terrain discouraged humans from traveling to the area until the California gold rush. 

Extensive logging began to threaten the once-massive forests until the 1920s, when three areas were placed under the protection of the state of California.  In 1968, Congress created the Redwood National Park adjacent to the California parks and reached an agreement to jointly manage the four-park system.

2009 $17.50 Old Faithful, Express Mail

During the 1830s, legendary mountain man Jim Bridger returned from Wyoming’s remote Yellowstone region with fantastic tales.  He claimed he had seen waterfalls that spouted upwards!  Although few believed his story, later expeditions discovered one of America’s most breathtaking natural wonders – thousands of virgin acres dotted with geysers and teeming with wildlife.

To preserve this unique place, President Grant signed legislation creating Yellowstone National Park in 1872.  The 3,468-acre park was the first of its kind, featuring half of the world’s geothermal features with Old Faithful as its crown jewel.  The geyser erupts 90 to 184 feet in intervals that average 94 minutes, making it the biggest and most regular geyser in the park.

2010 $4.90 Mackinac Bridge, Priority Mail

The Mackinac Bridge towers 200 feet above the windswept waters of Lakes Huron and Michigan.  “Mighty Mac” extends 5 miles across the Straits of Mackinac to link Michigan’s Upper and Lower Peninsulas.

Before the bridge opened in 1957, travelers waited in long lines to cross the channel by ferry or drove all the way around Lake Michigan and through Wisconsin to get to the other side.  The Mackinac Bridge shortened the trip to a ten-minute drive and opened the Upper Peninsula to tourism – adding an estimated $100 million a year to Michigan’s tourist trade.

Bridge designers took special precautions for Michigan’s severe winter weather.  Grated openings between the center lanes improve airflow and prevent the road deck from being pushed up by strong winds.  During high winds, the road deck can also move up to 35 feet from side to side to keep the bridge from buckling.

2010 $18.30 Bixby Creek Bridge, Express Mail

With the blue waters of the Pacific rolling out below and the rugged mountains of Santa Lucia in the background, the Bixby Creek Bridge carries travelers toward their destinations.

Bixby Bridge is a tourist destination in itself.  Using Art Deco style, the sweeping arch and slender columns make it appear part of the natural landscape.  Rather than cut through the countryside, Bixby was purposely designed to preserve and complement it.  The two large pillars are set wide apart, allowing Bixby Creek to run its natural course.  The columns are also set directly into the canyon wall, reducing the amount of excavation needed.

Bixby Creek Bridge is one of the most recognizable landmarks in California.  Spanning Rainbow Canyon, the bridge combines art, conservation, and function.