2009 Commemorative Postage Stamps

Last week the U.S. Postal Service released information about the first six subjects on their 2009 commemorative stamp schedule.

The 50th anniversary of Alaska statehood will be celebrated with a stamp, as will the sesquicentennial of Oregon statehood.

Other early 2009 stamps will feature Edgar Allan Poe, the Lunar New Year, and black civil rights leaders.

Incidentally, Christmas stamps went on sale last week. This year's "secular" design is of nutcrackers.

Madonna and Child stamps are also available. This year's painting is by Botticelli.