Definitives are regular issues of postage stamps, usually sold over long periods of time. With the issuance of the five-cent American Toleware stamp in 2002, the Postal Service launched a new series of definitive stamps featuring examples of the rich diversity of American design.

The American Design series showcases objects from various regions, eras and ethnic cultures that combine utility with beauty and function with form. It replaced the long-running Transportation series, which was issued from 1981 through 1995. The American Design stamps will range in denomination from one tiffany ten cents: the ten-cent American Clock and the one-cent Tiffany Lamp were issued in 2003; the four-cent Chippendale Chair was issued in March 2004.

Lou Nolan has been the artist for many Postal Service projects. Among them are five stamps in the Transportation series (School Bus, Dog Sled, Milk Wagon, Popcorn Wagon and Elevator); the Certified Public Accountants stamp (1987); the Bill of Rights stamp (1989); and the first four stamps in the American Design series (American Toleware, American Clock, Tiffany Lamp and Chippendale Chair).

Well before the turn of the 20th century, jewelry making had become, along with the older tradition of weaving, an important aspect of Navajo material culture. Early Navajo silversmiths were especially known for their bracelets, concha belts and necklaces. The squash blossom necklace, in particular, became and remains very popular in the Southwest. Artistic expression continues to flourish among Navajo silversmiths today. They use silver, gold, and a variety of semi-precious and precious stones to create traditional and contemporary designs.

A squash blossom necklace is typically composed of silver beads resembling stylized blossoms, with a single crescent-shaped pendant at the center. Some squash blossom necklaces are made entirely of silver, particularly older examples; others combine silver and turquoise or silver and coral. The squash blossom design is based on a Spanish-Mexican trouser ornament that was actually a stylized version of the pomegranate blossom. The Navajo name for this type of necklace — squash blossom — has nothing to do with either squash or tiffany bangles blossoms. It simply means “round beads that spread out.”

The Navajo word for the central crescent-shaped pendant is “nazhah,” meaning “curve,” but such pendants are usually referred to simply as “najas.” Initially, the crescent-shaped naja pendants were probably based on Spanish colonial bridle ornaments, which, in turn, were derived from a Moorish crescent design.

Around 1880, Navajo silversmiths began setting stones — particularly large, rough-cut nuggets of turquoise — into silver. Turquoise was, and still is today, highly regarded and appreciated in the Southwest. To many Southwest tribes, turquoise is a sacred stone. The Navajo, who use it lavishly in their jewelry, believe that wearing turquoise brings good fortune.

Since 1775, the U.S. Postal Service has connected friends, families, neighbors and businesses by mail. An independent federal agency, the Postal Service makes deliveries to about 141 million addresses every day and is the only service provider to deliver to every address in the nation. The Postal Service receives no taxpayer dollars for routine operations, but derives its operating revenues solely from the sale of postage, products and services. With annual revenues of more than $68 billion, it is the world’s leading provider of mail and delivery services, offering some of the most affordable postage rates in the world. Moreover, today’s postage rates will remain stable until at least 2006. The U.S. Postal Service delivers more than 46 percent of the world’s mail volume — some 202 billion letters, advertisements, periodicals and packages a year — and serves seven million customers each day at its 38,000 retail locations nationwide.

How to Order First Day of Issue Postmark

Customers have 30 days to obtain the first-day-of-issue postmark by mail. They may purchase new stamps at their local Post Office(TM), by telephone at 1-800-STAMP-24, and at the Postal Store Web site at http://www.usps.com/shop. They should affix the stamps to envelopes of their choice, tiffany rings the envelopes (to themselves or others), and place them in a larger envelope addressed to:

NAVAJO JEWELRY DEFINITIVE STAMP

POSTMASTER

125 W SOUTH ST

Indianapolis, IN 46206-9998

After applying the first-day-of-issue postmark, the Postal Service will return the envelopes through the mail. There is no charge for the postmark. All orders must be postmarked by September 19, 2004.

How to Order First Day Covers

Stamp Fulfillment Services also offers first day covers for new stamp tiffany bracelets and Postal Service stationery items postmarked with the official first day of issue cancellation. Each item has an individual catalog number and is offered in the quarterly USA Philatelic catalog. Customers may request a free catalog by calling 1-800-STAMP-24 or writing to:

INFORMATION FULFILLMENT

DEPT 6270

US POSTAL SERVICE

PO BOX 219014

KANSAS CITY MO 64121-9014

Philatelic Products

There are no philatelic products for this stamp issue. SOURCE U.S. Postal Service