2018 First-Class Forever Stamp,Double Rainbow Over a Field in Kansas

U.S. #5298c

2018 50¢ O Beautiful – Double Rainbow Over Kansas Wheatfield

Value:  50¢ 1-ounce First-Class Letter Rate (Forever)

Issue Date:  July 4, 2018

First Day City:  Colorado Springs, Colorado

Type of Stamp:  Commemorative

Printed by:  Ashton Potter

Printing Method:  Offset

Format:  Pane of 20

Self-Adhesive

Quantity Printed:  60,000,000

Some of the most beautiful sights in the world can be found in America.  The landscapes are breathtaking in their own right, but sometimes Mother Nature adds a little extra.

Rainbows are magnificent displays created when sunlight is reflected in airborne water droplets at a certain angle.  This effectively separates the colors of the visible light spectrum and bends them into an arc with red on the top followed by orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet.  A rare double rainbow occurs when sunlight reflects inside the water droplet twice.  It produces a secondary rainbow above the primary with the color order reversed.

Hawaii is the world capital for rainbow sightings, with many spotted across the islands each day.  The tropical location and lush greenery make for some truly stunning views.  But rainbows can be just as, if not more, beautiful in other settings.  Many find a rainbow in front of a stormy sky to be breathtaking, especially with a sunlit field below.  For these types of scenes, Great Plains states like Kansas are the best places to visit.  Their unpredictable weather can lead to a mix of dark clouds, bright sunshine, and dazzling rainbows.

The Great Plains may be flat, but they are just as beautiful as the soaring mountains and sandy coasts.