US #5479
2020 Cross-Country Skiing – Enjoy the Great Outdoors
• One of five stamps issued to promote outdoor activities in the US
Stamp Category: Commemorative
Set: Enjoy the Great Outdoors
Value: 55¢ First Class Mail Rate (Forever)
First Day of Issue: June 13... more
US #5479
2020 Cross-Country Skiing – Enjoy the Great Outdoors
• One of five stamps issued to promote outdoor activities in the US
Stamp Category: Commemorative
Set: Enjoy the Great Outdoors
Value: 55¢ First Class Mail Rate (Forever)
First Day of Issue: June 13, 2020
First Day City: Incline Village, Nevada
Quantity Issued: 35,000,000
Printed by: Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd.
Printing Method: Offset
Format: Panes of 20
Tagging: Nonphosphored Type III, Block Tag
Why the stamp was issued: To celebrate America’s natural beauty and the enjoyment of cross-country skiing to experience that beauty up close.
About the stamp design: Stamp pictures a hand-sketched and painted design by artist Gregory Manchess of a pair of people cross-country skiing through a snowy landscape.
Special design details: The selvage of the pane of 20 includes a painting of trees along a bank with a body of water and a canoe with a man holding an oar.
First Day City: Due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, the First Day of Issue Ceremony was held virtually on the USPS’s Facebook and Twitter pages. The First Day of Issue Postmark was from Incline Valley, Nevada, located on the north shore of Lake Tahoe and known for its ample opportunities for outdoor activities.
About the Enjoy the Great Outdoors set: Issued to celebrate America’s natural beauty and the many ways we can get out and enjoy it. Five stamps picturing different hand-sketched and painted designs by artist Gregory Manchess. They picture building a sandcastle, hiking, cross-country skiing, canoeing, and biking.
History the stamp represents: The cold winter months can seem never-ending, making you feel trapped inside. But there’s a way to get outside and enjoy the season without getting too chilly. Cross-country skiing is fun and easy to learn. Plus, there are no intimidating slopes like in downhill skiing.
Cross-country skiing has existed for thousands of years. Skis were used by early people as an easy and reliable form of transportation during the winter, and today cross-country skiing is a popular recreational activity. The sport is even part of the Winter Olympic Games. It can be a standalone activity or can be done in combination with target shooting or orienteering (navigating an area using only a map).
Many towns, state parks, and national parks have cross-country ski trails today. Some are groomed (the snow packed down and smoothed out by machine) to make travel easier, while others are left natural. The best part of cross-country skiing is that you have to use your whole body to propel yourself across the snow. This makes it an excellent form of exercise, so skiers rarely get too cold, even when it’s snowing.
Winter may seem dull, but cross-country skiing can show you the season’s hidden beauty. There is nothing better than gliding through the trees on a quiet afternoon and taking in the sparkling wonderland of snow and ice.
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