Special Postmark and Total Eclipse of Sun Stamp Combine to Make a Great Collectible

8/14/17 –

On August 21, 2017, tens of millions of people in the United States will have an opportunity to view a total eclipse of the Sun. A total solar eclipse was last seen on the U.S. mainland in 1979, but only in the Northwest. The eclipse this summer will sweep a narrow path across the entire country—the first time this has happened since 1918. The U.S. Postal Service® anticipates this rare event with a stamp celebrating the majesty of solar eclipses.

The Total Eclipse of the Sun stamp is the first U.S. stamp to use thermochromic ink, which reacts to the heat of your touch. Placing your finger over the black disc on the stamp causes the ink to change from black to clear to reveal an underlying image of the moon. The image reverts back to the black disc once it cools. The back of the stamp pane shows a map of the eclipse path.You can preserve the integrity of your Total Eclipse of the Sun Forever® stamp pane with our protective sleeve specifically designed for stamp preservation. The stamp uses a photograph taken by astrophysicist Fred Espenak of a total solar eclipse that was seen over Jalu, Libya, on March 29, 2006. Mr. Espenak also took the photograph of the full moon that is revealed by pressing upon the stamp image. The reverse side of the stamp pane shows the path across the United States of the forthcoming August 21, 2017, total solar eclipse and gives the times that it will appear in some locations.

 The Glendo and Bondurant, WY Post Offices will offer a Special Postmark commemorating the upcoming Solar Eclipse. The Postmark is available beginning August 21 and will only be available for 30 days after the eclipse at the office, located at 118 N. Yellowstone Hwy (Glendo) and 3884 US Hwy 191 (Bondurant).

Any item bearing current First-Class postage stamps will be postmarked at no charge, said Glendo, Bondurant Postmasters Denise Delgado and Amy Jo Stern.

“We encourage all those in the community to come out and buy a sheet of the Total Eclipse of the Sun Forever Stamps and receive the Special Postmark,” said Delgado and Stern. “The special postmark when combined with the Stamp will make for a great collectible.”

The Total Eclipse of the Sun Stamp was issued June 20, 2017, and is a one-of-a-kind Forever Stamp which transforms the solar eclipse image into the Moon from the heat of a finger. Once cooled, the image reverts back to the eclipse. The stamps are sold in panes of 16 Forever Stamps and are available now at Post Offices nationwide and online at usps.com/shop.

Other Post Offices along the area of totality will also offer unique, special postmarks including Alcova, Casper, Bondurant, Douglas, Ft. Washakie, Glendo, Glenrock, Jay Em, Lander, Mills, Lusk,  Powder Riverton, Shoshoni, Thermopolis, Wheatland and others..

This stamp image is a photograph taken by retired NASA astrophysicist Fred Espenak of Portal, AZ, who is considered by many to be the world’s leading authority on total solar eclipses with 27 under his belt.

“A total eclipse of the Sun is simply the most beautiful, stunning and awe-inspiring astronomical event you can see with the naked eye — but you’ve got to be in the 70-mile-wide path of totality,” said Espenak.

The Postal Service printed 60 million of the stamp.