U.S. #4975 OR U.S. #4975a

2014 & 2015 Ferns (with Microprinting):  Goldie's Wood Fern

Value:  49¢ 1-ounce First-class rate (Forever)

Issue Date:  March 27, 2015

Type of Stamp:  Definitive

Printed by:  Banknote Corporation of America/SSP

Printing Method:  Offset, Microprint

Formats:  Coil of 3,000 (2015) OR Coil of 10,000 (2014)

Self-Adhesive

Quantities Printed:  45,000,000 (Coil of 3,000) OR 100,000,000 (Coil of 10,000)

**Please Note:  When you order this 2015 Goldie's Wood Fern stamp, you may receive US #4975 (from the coils of 3,000 with "2015" at the bottom of the stamp) OR #4975a (from the coils of 10,000 with "2014" at the bottom of the stamp).**

Native to the northeastern United States and neighboring Canada, Goldie's wood fern is one of the tallest-known wood fern varieties, growing up to six feet in height.

A semi-evergreen, Goldie's wood fern shows off a lush spray of large, rich green fronds almost year 'round.  The plant takes its name not from its coloring, but from its founder, 19th century Scottish botanist John Goldie.

In 1817, at only 24 years old, Goldie sailed to North America in search of new plants.  Though his trip was slated for New York, bad weather rerouted his ship to Canada.  Undeterred, he collected samples throughout southeastern Canada:  from Halifax, to Quebec, to Montreal, traveling mostly on foot.

As Goldie walked south from Canada through New York State and again north to Montreal, he continuously sent his collected samples back to Scotland, only to learn time and time again that the shipments never arrived.  Ever resilient, he continued to travel on foot as far south as Pittsburgh, this time holding his samples until he could personally take them back to Scotland.

When Goldie finally sailed back to Scotland in August 1819, among the samples he was able to transport was the root of his namesake wood fern.