Cloudscape Stamps Released by United States Postal Service (USPS)

The world's most popular hobby will rise to greater heights due to the U.S. Postal Service's release of the 37-cent Cloudscapes commemorative postage stamp, which launched National Stamp Collecting Month. This year's theme, "Reach for the Sky and Collect Stamps" includes an alliance with the National Weather Service, The Weather Channel, and the American Meteorological Society to educate stamp collectors about atmospheric sciences.

The Cloudscapes stamp sheet includes 15 stamps based on photographs of nine cloud formations and are arranged on the stamp pane according to altitude. Information about each cloud is no the back of the pane behind the stamp. A booklet of twenty 23-cent Cloudscape stamped postal-cards of the 15 stamp designs has also been issued.

The cloud types shown on the stamp pane are: Cirrus radiatus, Cirrostratus fibratus, Cirrocumulus undulatus, Cumulonimbus mammatus, Cumulonimbus incus, Altocumulus stratiformis, Altostratus translucidus, Altocumulus undulatus, Altocumulus castellanus, Altocumulus lenticularis, Stratocumulus undulatus, Stratus opacus, Cumulus humilis, Cumulus congestus and Cumulonimbus with tornado.

To learn more about U.S. Stamps and stamp collecting, go to the Postal Service Collector's Corner at www.usps.com/shop.