Flags of Our Nation

New Three-Year Multi-Stamp Series Launched

  As the nation nears the annual observance of Flag Day on June 14, the U.S. Postal Service will mark the event with the launch of a three-year multi-stamp series honoring the state's standards called "Flags of Our Nation."

The first 10 stamps in the new series will be presented during a first-day-of-issue ceremony on Flag Day at the National Postal Museum in Washington at 10:30 a.m. ET. Anchored by the Stars and Stripes, a perennial stamp favorite, the series salutes the state and territorial flags of Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, American Samoa, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut and Delaware.

Washington, DC, Postmaster Pat Moore, Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee member John Hotchner, National Postal Museum Director Allen Kane and the Postal Service's Stamp Services Director David Failor will unveil the stamps at the ceremony. The stamp's art director Howard Paine and the artist Tom Engeman will also make guest appearances.

"Flags are our nation's greatest symbols for unity and pride and the values we hold dear," said David Failor, executive director, Stamp Services, U.S. Postal Service. "The Postal Service is proud to present this tribute as we honor our nation's flags."

In addition to the June 14 ceremony at the museum, nine "Flags of Our Nation" stamp events will be held concurrently in most instances at state capitols from Alabama to Delaware. A couple of events are scheduled later in the month and in July. You may contact the Postal Service's Public Affairs and Communications department to learn the details of these events by calling (202) 268-3207.

In September, the second set of stamps in the series will be issued representing the flags of the District of Columbia through Kansas. The same process will be repeated in 2009 and 2010 for a total of 60 stamp designs.

Artist Tom Engeman of Bethany Beach, DE, created the highly detailed flag portraits on the stamps. In addition to the flag art, each stamp design includes a "snapshot view" of the state, territory, the District of Columbia, or the nation as a whole. For example, the snapshot art appearing on the Stars and Stripes stamp depicts the "spacious skies" of "America the Beautiful." Past designs created by Engeman include the National World War II Memorial stamp (2004) and the nation's first Forever stamp (2007), featuring the Liberty Bell.

The first 10 stamps in the Flags of Our Nation series will be available June 14 at Post Offices, on usps.com, and by calling 800-STAMP-24.

Flags of Our Nation Philatelic Fact Sheet

Philatelic Products

There is one philatelic product available for this stamp issue:

·         786563, First-Day Cover set of 10, $8

·         786568, Digital Color Postmark set of 10, $15

·         786591, Ceremony Program, $6.95

How to Order First-Day Covers

Stamp Fulfillment Services also offers first-day covers for new stamp issues and Postal Service stationery items postmarked with the official first-day-of-issue cancellation. Each item has an individual catalog number and is offered in the quarterly USA Philatelic catalog. Customers may request a free catalog by calling 800-STAMP-24 or writing to:

Information Fulfillment

Dept 6270

U.S. Postal Service

PO Box 219014

Kansas City, MO  64121-9014

How to Order the First-Day-of-Issue Postmark

Customers have 60 days to obtain the first-day-of-issue postmark by mail. They may purchase new stamps at their local Post Office, by telephone at 800-STAMP-24, or at the Postal Store website at www.usps.com/shop. They should affix the stamps to envelopes of their choice, address the envelopes to themselves or others, and place them in a larger envelope addressed to:

Flags of Our Nation

Postmaster

Special Cancellations

PO Box 92282

Washington, DC 20066-9998

After applying the first-day-of-issue postmark, the Postal Service will return the envelopes through the mail. There is no charge for the postmark. All orders must be postmarked by Aug. 15, 2008.