An avid stamp collector with an interest in First-Day-of-Issue opportunities, Jesse Malone was among a couple dozen people who turned out for a dedication ceremony for Glacier National Park’s commemorative stamp Thursday in Kalispell.

“This is a desirable stamp for a collection anywhere in the country,” said Malone,  a member of the Glacier Stamp Club who has an extensive U.S. and worldwide collection.

The 85-cent stamp celebrating the nation’s 10th national park went on sale Thursday across the country, and Malone predicted it will have brisk sales.

At the Kalispell Post Office on Meridian Road, the ceremony was headed by Postmaster Rich Burley and Glacier Superintendent Chas Cartwright, with the Kalispell Middle School girls’ choir singing “America the Beautiful” and “The Star-Spangled Banner.”

“Today, the Postal Service is proud and honored to create this lasting tribute to Glacier National Park through the issuance of this stamp,” said Burley, who mentioned that it is the first stamp recognizing Glacier since an orange-colored, 9-cent stamp was issued as part of a national park series in 1935.

“That particular stamp he was talking about is the logo for our stamp club,” noted Malone.

The new Glacier stamp was designed by art director Ethel Kessler of Bethesda, Md., featuring a photo by National Geographic photographer Michael Melford. It is an image of Logan Pass, the highest point on the park’s famed Going-to-the-Sun Road.

The U.S. Postal Service considers about 40,000 ideas for stamps each year and only about 25 end up selected for stamps. The Glacier stamp is part of the Postal Service’s “Scenic American Landscapes” series.

During his remarks, Cartwright praised Glacier’s natural attributes as being worthy of a commemorative stamp.

“It’s very fitting that Glacier be included in the American Scenic Landscape,” he said.

For his collection, Malone said he plans to purchase only one of the stamps with a First-Day-of-Issue postmark.

“But I’ll get a number of them because I have a lot friends who are collectors as well,” he said.

As of Thursday, stamp purchasers have 60 days to obtain the First-Day-of-Issue postmark by mail.

After purchasing the stamps, they should affix them to envelopes of their choice, address them to themselves or others and place them in larger envelopes addressed to: Glacier National Park International Rate Stamp, Postmaster, 350 N. Meridian Road, Kalispell, MT 59901.

After applying the First-Day-of-Issue postmark, the Postal Service will send the postmarked envelopes. There is no charge for the postmark, and all orders must be postmarked by March 19.

Reporter Jim Mann may be reached at 758-4407 or by email at [email protected].