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

SPRINGFIELD, IL — The U.S. Postal Service today honored President Abraham Lincoln with a new stamp issued at the second-ounce rate for envelopes and mailings that require additional postage, during a ceremony at the Old State Capitol. Customers may purchase the 21-cent stamp at usps.com/stamps, 800-STAMP24 (800-782-6724) and at Post Offices nationwide.

“This is a proud day for the Postal Service, for the people of Springfield, and for everyone who continues to draw inspiration from the life and legacy of Abraham Lincoln,” said Jeffrey Williamson, chief human resources officer and executive vice president.

“The mail is where special memories are made. That was true during Lincoln’s lifetime. It’s true now. And that’s why I want to encourage everyone to use the new Lincoln stamp from the United States Postal Service,” Williamson said. “This stamp is an ideal way to make special memories through the mail.”

The stamp features a black-and-white photograph with a close-up view of the statue of Abraham Lincoln by sculptor Daniel Chester French that is housed inside the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC. The image is slightly cropped to showcase the President’s rugged facial features. Carol Highsmith took the original photograph. Art director Derry Noyes designed the stamp.

Joining Williamson to dedicate the Lincoln stamp were David Martin, district manager and lead executive, Gateway District; Philip Geraci, postmaster, Springfield, IL; Amy Martin, director, Illinois Historic Preservation Agency; and the Lincoln Land Community College Choir.

Customers may view the Abraham Lincoln stamp, as well as many of this year’s other stamps, on Facebook at facebook.com/USPSStamps, on Twitter@USPSstamps or at USPSstamps.com.

Ordering First-Day-of-Issue Postmarks
Customers have 60 days to obtain the first-day-of-issue postmark by mail. They may purchase new stamps at local Post Offices, at The Postal Store 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:

Abraham Lincoln Stamp
Postmaster
FDOI Postmark
2105 East Cook Street
Springfield, IL  62703-9998

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 up to a quantity of 50. For more than 50, the price is five cents each. All orders must be postmarked by April 15, 2014.

Ordering 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 seven philatelic products available for the pane of 20:

• 116806, Press Sheet w/Die Cuts, $12.60 (print quantity of 1,000).
• 116808, Press Sheet w/o Die Cuts, $12.60 (print quantity of 1,000).
• 116810, Keepsake (Pane & Digital Color Postmark Set), $6.95.
• 116816, First-Day Cover (Lincoln and Patriotic Star), $1.14.
• 116821, Digital Color Postmark (Lincoln and Patriotic Star), $1.85.
• 116831, Stamp Deck Card, $0.95.
• 116832, Stamp Deck Card w/Digital Color Postmark, $2.20.

There are two philatelic products available for the coil of 100:

• 774416, First-Day Cover (Lincoln and Patriotic Star), $1.14
• 774421, Digital Color Postmark (Lincoln and Patriotic Star), $1.85

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

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Please Note: For broadcast quality video and audio, photo stills and other media resources, visit the USPS Newsroom at http://about.usps.com/news/welcome.htm.

For reporters interested in speaking with a regional Postal Service public relations professional, please go to http://about.usps.com/news/media-contacts/usps-local-media-contacts.pdf.

A self-supporting government enterprise, the U.S. Postal Service is the only delivery service that reaches every address in the nation: 152 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. With more than 31,000 retail locations and the most frequently visited website in the federal government, usps.com, the Postal Service has annual revenue of more than $65 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 42nd in the 2012 Fortune 500. The Postal Service has been named the Most Trusted Government Agency for seven years and the fourth Most Trusted Business in the nation by the Ponemon Institute.

Follow the Postal Service on twitter.com/USPS and at facebook.com/USPS.