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New Lincoln Postage Unveiled In Springfield

Amanda Vinicky/WUIS

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

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.

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