2018 First-Class Forever Stamp,Bioluminescent Life: Marine Worm (Plankton)

# 5272 - 2018 First-Class Forever Stamp - Bioluminescent Life: Marine Worm (Plankton)

$2.95 - $5.00
Image Condition Price Qty
861144
Mint Stamp(s) Ships in 1-3 business days. Ships in 1-3 business days.
$ 5.00
$ 5.00
0
861145
Used Single Stamp(s) Ships in 1-3 business days. Ships in 1-3 business days.
$ 2.95
$ 2.95
1
Mounts - Click Here
Mount Price Qty

US #5272
2018 Marine Worm – Bioluminescent Life

  • Pictures a bioluminescent marine worm
  • One of 10 stamps showcasing the wonders of bioluminescence in nature


Stamp Category: 
Commemorative
Set:  Bioluminescent Life
Value:  50¢ First Class Mail Rate (Forever)
First Day of Issue:  February 22, 2018
First Day City:  Fort Pierce, Florida
Quantity Issued:  40,000,000
Printed by:  Banknote Corporation of America
Printing Method:  Offset
Format:  Panes of 20
Tagging:  Phosphor tagged paper, block tag
Other:  These stamps are highly reflective with a rainbow holographic-style effect

Why the stamp was issued:  To celebrate different organisms capable of generating their own light (bioluminescent).

About the stamp design:  Pictures an existing photograph of a bioluminescent marine worm taken by Steve Haddock.

Rainbow reflectivity:  According to the USPS, these stamps were “produced using a proprietary rainbow holograph material that is highly reflective in white light.  The stamps were produced using special techniques to enhance the reflective qualities of the material while maintaining the depth of color and detail of the individual images.  The rainbow pattern imparts a sense of movement and light to the stamp pane.”

About the Bioluminescent Life set:  Includes 10 designs picturing existing photographs of bioluminescent organisms taken by Dr. Edith Widder, Taylor F. Lockwood, Gail Shumway, and Steve Haddock.  The creatures pictured are:  deep ocean octopus, midwater jellyfish, deep sea comb jelly, mushroom, firefly, bamboo coral, marine worm, crown jellyfish, a different marine worm, and a sea pen.

First Day City:  The First Day of Issue Ceremony was held at Sunrise Theater in Fort Pierce, Florida, not far from the Ocean Research and Conservation Association headquarters (ORCA).  The organization’s CEO and Senior Scientist, Dr. Edith Widder, provided photographs for seven of the stamps images and was also in attendance at the First Day of Issue Ceremony.

History the stamp represents:  In deep ocean waters all over the world, small plankton worms glide through the darkness in search of food.  If along the way they come across a predator, they release a sparkling flurry of glowing particles.  This draws their attacker away, allowing them to escape.

Plankton worms are usually only between ¾ and 1 ½ inches in length.  Their bodies are almost entirely transparent, so they can be very hard to see when they are not glowing.  The genus to which plankton worms belong, Tomopteris, means “cut wing,” describing how the creature’s parapodia (paddle-like outgrowths) form a fin while they swim through the water.

Most species of plankton worms glow blue and will release bright blue particles from their parapodia.  Some species of plankton worms expel eggs or mucus, which also glows.

Additionally, there is a species of plankton worm that glows yellow.  Few bioluminescent creatures glow this color, and this is particularly rare of marine creatures.  Whether blue or yellow, the practice of expelling glowing particles is essential to the survival of many plankton worms.  It provides them with just enough time to swim away from larger predators.

Read More - Click Here

US #5272
2018 Marine Worm – Bioluminescent Life

  • Pictures a bioluminescent marine worm
  • One of 10 stamps showcasing the wonders of bioluminescence in nature


Stamp Category: 
Commemorative
Set:  Bioluminescent Life
Value:  50¢ First Class Mail Rate (Forever)
First Day of Issue:  February 22, 2018
First Day City:  Fort Pierce, Florida
Quantity Issued:  40,000,000
Printed by:  Banknote Corporation of America
Printing Method:  Offset
Format:  Panes of 20
Tagging:  Phosphor tagged paper, block tag
Other:  These stamps are highly reflective with a rainbow holographic-style effect

Why the stamp was issued:  To celebrate different organisms capable of generating their own light (bioluminescent).

About the stamp design:  Pictures an existing photograph of a bioluminescent marine worm taken by Steve Haddock.

Rainbow reflectivity:  According to the USPS, these stamps were “produced using a proprietary rainbow holograph material that is highly reflective in white light.  The stamps were produced using special techniques to enhance the reflective qualities of the material while maintaining the depth of color and detail of the individual images.  The rainbow pattern imparts a sense of movement and light to the stamp pane.”

About the Bioluminescent Life set:  Includes 10 designs picturing existing photographs of bioluminescent organisms taken by Dr. Edith Widder, Taylor F. Lockwood, Gail Shumway, and Steve Haddock.  The creatures pictured are:  deep ocean octopus, midwater jellyfish, deep sea comb jelly, mushroom, firefly, bamboo coral, marine worm, crown jellyfish, a different marine worm, and a sea pen.

First Day City:  The First Day of Issue Ceremony was held at Sunrise Theater in Fort Pierce, Florida, not far from the Ocean Research and Conservation Association headquarters (ORCA).  The organization’s CEO and Senior Scientist, Dr. Edith Widder, provided photographs for seven of the stamps images and was also in attendance at the First Day of Issue Ceremony.

History the stamp represents:  In deep ocean waters all over the world, small plankton worms glide through the darkness in search of food.  If along the way they come across a predator, they release a sparkling flurry of glowing particles.  This draws their attacker away, allowing them to escape.

Plankton worms are usually only between ¾ and 1 ½ inches in length.  Their bodies are almost entirely transparent, so they can be very hard to see when they are not glowing.  The genus to which plankton worms belong, Tomopteris, means “cut wing,” describing how the creature’s parapodia (paddle-like outgrowths) form a fin while they swim through the water.

Most species of plankton worms glow blue and will release bright blue particles from their parapodia.  Some species of plankton worms expel eggs or mucus, which also glows.

Additionally, there is a species of plankton worm that glows yellow.  Few bioluminescent creatures glow this color, and this is particularly rare of marine creatures.  Whether blue or yellow, the practice of expelling glowing particles is essential to the survival of many plankton worms.  It provides them with just enough time to swim away from larger predators.