CHARLESTON, W.Va. – What better day to debut a stamp dedicated to West Virginia than the state’s 150th birthday. The U.S. Postal Service began selling the West Virginia statehood stamp Thursday.
We got a sneak peak of the postage back in May. But stamp lovers had to wait until June 20 when they were issued by the USPS.
The stamp is a picture taken by Roger Spencer along the Highland Scenic Highway in Pocahontas County in the Monongahela National Forest.
Kim Burgess of Charleston said she wanted a few sheets of the stamps because that picture is near and dear to her heart.
“Oh, I think it’s gorgeous! I think the design is great,” said Burgess. “My mother lives in Pocahontas County so it’s beautiful.”
Becky McLaughlin of Cross Lanes has been waiting patiently for the day to arrive.
“I thought there’d be a long line and I wanted to get here early so I could get my stamps.”
McLaughlin also picked up 5-sheets of stamps at the downtown post office in Charleston. There weren’t any long lines but rather a steady stream of customers. She said she can’t wait to attach one to a letter.
“I have many friends in other states and I just want to show off our state a little,” she said.
But just a warning to public utility and credit card companies, you won’t be getting an envelope with a West Virginia stamp from McLaughlin.
“I won’t put them on bills! But rather on my correspondence and cards for out of state people to see,” stressed McLaughlin.
The USPS is producing 30-million West Virginia statehood stamps. They’re available in all 50 states.
Kristi George of Charleston jokingly said she didn’t purchase as many as she wanted.
“I bought five sheets. I would like to have bought more but I wanted to share with everyone else.”
The West Virginia Statehood stamp is being issued as a Forever® stamp and will always be equal in value to the current First-Class Mail® one-ounce rate.