© 2024 WNIJ and WNIU
Northern Public Radio
801 N 1st St.
DeKalb, IL 60115
815-753-9000
Northern Public Radio
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

New Lincoln Postage Unveiled In Springfield

The new commemorative Lincoln stamp is worth 21 cents—not enough to mail a letter, but enough to cover an extra ounce of mail.
Amanda Vinicky/WUIS
The new commemorative Lincoln stamp is worth 21 cents—not enough to mail a letter, but enough to cover an extra ounce of mail.
The new commemorative Lincoln stamp is worth 21 cents—not enough to mail a letter, but enough to cover an extra ounce of mail.
Credit Amanda Vinicky/WUIS
The new commemorative Lincoln stamp is worth 21 cents—not enough to mail a letter, but enough to cover an extra ounce of mail.

  On the anniversary of Abraham Lincoln's birth Wednesday, the U.S. Postal Service issued a new stamp paying homage to the Sixteenth President.

Amanda Vinicky reports on the commemorative Lincoln stamp, in honor of Abe's 205th birthday.

A new, black-and-white, 21 cent stamp is available at post offices nationwide. It features a close-up photograph of the Lincoln Memorial statue, in Washington D.C. But the unveiling of the stamp wasn't there.

The ceremony was at the Old State Capitol building, in Springfield — where Lincoln gave his "House Divided" speech.

Amy Martin is director of the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency.

"This stamp is more than just an item for collection," she said. "It's more than a beautiful design. It's actually another way of weaving Abraham Lincoln into modern culture."

Following the ceremony, stamp collectors lined up to buy the Lincoln stamps, with envelopes cancelled "first day of issue."

A twenty-one-cent stamp won't be enough to send a letter; a rate hike last month means that now costs 49 cents. But it will cover the price of an additional ounce.

Copyright 2014 NPR Illinois | 91.9 UIS

Amanda Vinicky moved to Chicago Tonight on WTTW-TV PBS in 2017.
Amanda Vinicky
Amanda Vinicky moved to Chicago Tonight on WTTW-TV PBS in 2017.