To obtain high-resolution stamp images or the video link for media use, please email sarah.a.ninivaggi@usps.gov.

WASHINGTON — The contributions of America’s industrial-era workers are memorialized on a new sheet of Forever stamps titled Made in America: Building a Nation. The stamps, which feature black-and-white photographs of early 20th-century industrial workers, were dedicated at the Department of Labor today by Postmaster General Patrick R. Donahoe.

“With Labor Day around the corner, the Postal Service is proud to honor the men and women who helped build this country with their own hands,” Donahoe said. “They mined the coal that warmed our homes. They made the clothes we wore on our backs. Let each stamp serve as a small reminder of the dedication, work ethic, and sacrifices that make America great.”

Joining Donahoe at the ceremony was recently-appointed Secretary of the U.S. Department of Labor Tom Perez, Secretary-Treasurer of the AFL-CIO Elizabeth Shuler, and other union leaders.

“Stamps are like a miniature American portrait gallery,” said Labor Secretary Perez. “They are an expression of our values and a connection to our past. That’s why it’s so fitting that that this series depicts Americans at work. These iconic images tell a powerful story about American economic strength and prosperity. These men and women and millions like them really did build a nation.”

The pane features 12 stamps, each showing a different man or woman hard at work. In the top row, from left to right, are an airplane maker; a derrick worker on the Empire State Building; a millinery apprentice; and a laborer on a hoisting ball at the Empire State Building.

In the middle row, from left to right, are a linotyper in a publishing house; a welder on the Empire State Building; a coal miner; and riveters on the Empire State Building.

In the bottom row, from left to right, are a powerhouse mechanic; a railroad track walker; a textile worker; and a crew member guiding a beam on the Empire State Building.

Eleven of the stamp images were taken by photographer Lewis Hine, who is famous for his work which helped tell the story of early 20th-century laborers. There also are five stamp sheets available, each with a different photo in the selvage area, or area outside the stamps, on the sheet. The coal miner appears again on a selvage, along with three additional Hine photos. A Margaret Bourke-White photo of a female welder is also featured.

The commemorative First-Class Mail Forever stamps are 46 cents each and are offered as a pane of 12 stamps. Customers may purchase the Made in America stamps at usps.com/stamps, at 800-STAMP-24 (800-782-6724) and at Post Offices nationwide. Many of this year’s other stamps may be viewed on Facebook at facebook.com/USPSStamps, via Twitter at @USPSstamps or at beyondtheperf.com/2013-preview. Visit usps.com/madeinamerica to view the Made in America: Building a Nation video.

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, 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:

Made in America: Building a Nation Stamps
Special Cancellations
PO Box 92282
Washington, DC 20090-2282

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 up to a quantity of 50. For more than 50, the price     is 5 cents each. All orders must be postmarked by Oct. 8, 2013.

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, online at usps.com/shop or by calling 800-782-6724. Customers may request a free catalog by calling 800-782-6724 or writing to:

U.S. Postal Service
Catalog Request
PO Box 219014
Kansas City, MO  64121-9014

Philatelic Products
There are 12 philatelic products available for this stamp issue:

471524, T-shirt, $15.95

471506, Press Sheet with Die Cuts, $27.60 (print quantity of 2,500).
471508, Press Sheet without Die Cuts, $27.60 (print quantity of 2,500).

471509, Packet of Five Panes (All 5 Selvage Designs), $27.60.

471510, Keepsake (Random Pane & Random Digital Color Postmark Set), $7.95.
471516, First-Day Cover Set of 12, $10.80.
471521, Digital Color Postmark Set of 12, $19.32.

471530, Ceremony Program (Random Stamp), $6.95.

471518, First-Day Cover (Random Full Pane), $8.02.
471519, First-Day Cancelled (Random Full Pane), $8.02.
471531, Stamp Deck Card, $0.95.
471532, Stamp Deck Card with Digital Color Postmark (Random Stamp), $1.96.

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