In a heartfelt tribute to the state’s rich history, the art of renowned Colorado wildlife photographer John Fielder will soon be featured on a newly released U.S. stamp, celebrating the 150th anniversary of Colorado's statehood, as announced by the U.S. Postal Service on Tuesday.
Fielder, who was a prominent figure in nature photography and dedicated his life to capturing the stunning landscapes of Colorado, sadly passed away in 2023 at the age of 73. This month, his legacy will be honored with the release of a stamp titled "Colorado Statehood."
The forever-stamp showcases an exceptional photograph of Jagged Mountain, a breathtaking thirteener nestled within the San Juan Mountain Range in southwestern Colorado. This stunning image, taken by Fielder himself, has been artistically designed by Derry Noyes.
To commemorate this special occasion, the U.S. Postal Service is hosting a free public event called the “first-day-of-issue” ceremony at 9 a.m. on Saturday, January 24, at the History Colorado Center located at 1200 Broadway in Denver. Attendees can look forward to obtaining commemorative editions of the stamp, and those interested can RSVP by visiting usps.com/coloradostamp.
The timing of this event is particularly significant, coinciding with the opening of a new exhibit at History Colorado titled "Mountains Majesty: On the Summit with John Fielder." This showcase not only highlights Fielder's remarkable work but also enhances the museum's extensive Colorado Collection, which includes many of his photographs that he generously donated for educational and research purposes before his passing.
Katherine Mercier, an exhibition developer and historian, shared her thoughts on the emotional connection that visitors have with Fielder's photography. She noted, "As History Colorado members selected photographs for this exhibition, I was struck by their deep emotional connection to John Fielder’s work. His powerful photos of Colorado’s mountains brought back personal memories of the state’s beauty and wonder. This exhibition is a love letter to John Fielder and his mountain photographs from History Colorado’s members."
For anyone interested in exploring Fielder’s vast collection of around 6,000 images, it is available for free online at historycolorado.org/john-fielders-colorado-collection. To RSVP for the January 24 event or to learn more about collector’s editions of the 20-stamp sheets, please visit usps.com/coloradostamp.
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