
US #5802q
2023 Mold Spores – Life Magnified
- Pictures a microscopic view of mold spores
- Part of the Life Magnified set of 20 stamps
Stamp Category: Commemorative
Set: Life Magnified
Value: 66¢ First Class Mail Rate (Forever)
First Day of Issue: August 10, 2023
First Day City: Cleveland, Oh... more
US #5802q
2023 Mold Spores – Life Magnified
- Pictures a microscopic view of mold spores
- Part of the Life Magnified set of 20 stamps
Stamp Category: Commemorative
Set: Life Magnified
Value: 66¢ First Class Mail Rate (Forever)
First Day of Issue: August 10, 2023
First Day City: Cleveland, Ohio
Quantity Issued: 32,000,000
Printed by: Banknote Corporation of America
Printing Method: Offset, Flexographic
Format: Panes of 20
Tagging: Phosphor Tagged Paper, Block Tagging
Why the stamp was issued: To show an up-close view of mold spores we would never be able to see with the naked eye.
About the stamp design: Pictures a photograph taken with special techniques using a microscope. Design also includes the name of the specimen.
First Day City: First Day of Issue Ceremony was held in Cleveland, Ohio, at The Great American Stamp Show.
About the Life Magnified Set: These 20 stamps were issued to showcase life undetectable by the human eye alone. All 20 stamps picture photographs taken using special techniques and the aid of a microscope. The set celebrates the beauty and complexity of microscopic organisms and parts of organisms, the study of which have had various impacts on humans.
History the stamp represents: When most people think of mold, they think of spoiled food or of dark, damp places like basements or under kitchen sinks. However, there is so much more to mold than that.
Mold is formed by certain types of fungus and comes in many colors and forms. These are all caused by the mold’s formation of spores. Some may be fuzzy and threadlike (caused by microscopic branches called hyphae or mycelium) while others are more powdery (caused by a huge production of spores). Interestingly, we cannot see the fungus that produces mold with the naked eye. It is not until the fungus reproduces and makes mold that we are able to see it.
There are thousands of known species of mold fungi in the world. Some are harmless to humans, while others can cause severe health problems. All molds (and funguses) get their energy from the substances they live on, needing only the addition of moisture to grow and thrive. This means they are found readily in a wide range of environments.
Scientists have been studying molds for decades and have developed many beneficial ways to use them. These include in food science, antibiotics, dyes, biotechnology, and more. Who knows how many potential uses we have yet to discover for these microscopic organisms!