To obtain a high-resolution image of the stamps for media use only, e-mail roy.a.betts@usps.gov.

Columbus, OH — The U.S. Postal Service continues its Flags of Our Nation series today with the issuance of 10 more stamp designs that feature the flags of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and the states of Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota and Tennessee. The new Forever stamps are on sale today in Post Offices nationwide, online at usps.com and by calling 800-782-6724.

“The American identity is one that is rooted in freedom — the freedom to speak our minds, live our dreams, and conduct business together as one nation and one people,” said Megan Brennan, the Postal Service’s chief operating officer and executive vice president, who dedicated the stamps at the American Philatelic Society annual stamp show.

“The Flags of Our Nation stamps symbolize that unity, as well as our heritage and values, and that unique blend of unity and diversity is what keeps us strong and free,” Brennan said.

Brennan was joined to dedicate the stamp series by Wade Saadi, president, American Philatelic Society; James Lee, president, American Stamp Dealers Association; Janet Klug, member, Citizens’ Stamp Advisory Committee; and Stephen Kearney, manager, Stamp Services, U.S. Postal Service.

In addition to the official flag, each stamp design includes artwork that provides a snapshot such as an everyday scene or activity, rare wildlife, or a picturesque vista. Art director Howard Paine collaborated with artist Tom Engeman on the 50 stamps in this series.

The Flags of Our Nation series features not only stamps but a special Collector’s Folder designed to preserve the entire series. The folder comes with a coil of 50 Set 1 stamps — the first 10 designs — and mounts for all 60 stamps in the series. To see detailed descriptions of the flag stamps, click here.

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 a local Post Office, at The Postal Store website at usps.com/shop, or by calling 800-STAMP-24. They should affix the stamps to envelopes of their choice, address the envelopes (to themselves or others) and place them in larger envelopes addressed to:

Flags of Our Nation: Set 5 Stamps
Postmaster
850 Twin Rivers Drive
Columbus, OH 43216-9998

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 Oct. 11, 2011.

How to Order First-Day Covers
The Postal Service 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

Philatelic Products
There are four philatelic products available for this stamp issue:

• 788363, First-Day Cover Set of 10, $8.80
• 788368, Digital Color Postmark Set of 10, $16.00
• 788391, Ceremony Program (random sample), $6.95
• 788340, Full coil of 50 (only), $22.00
• 786575, Collector’s Folder with coil of 50 Set 1 stamps, $29.95

To learn more about the Postal Service’s Stamp Program, visit http://beyondtheperf.com.

The Postal Service receives no tax dollars for operating expenses and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations.

We’re everywhere so you can be anywhere: www.uspseverywhere.com

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A self-supporting government enterprise, the U.S. Postal Service is the only delivery service that reaches every address in the nation, 150 million residences, businesses and Post Office Boxes. The Postal Service receives no tax dollars for operating expenses, and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations. We’re everywhere so you can be anywhere: www.uspseverywhere.com. With 32,000 retail locations and the most frequently visited website in the federal government, usps.com, the Postal Service has annual revenue of more than $67 billion and delivers nearly 40 percent of the world’s mail. If it were a private sector company, the U.S. Postal Service would rank 29th in the 2010 Fortune 500. Black Enterprise and Hispanic Business magazines ranked the Postal Service as a leader in workforce diversity. The Postal Service has been named the Most Trusted Government Agency six consecutive years and the sixth Most Trusted Business in the nation by the Ponemon Institute.