Name: 2014 US First-Class Forever Stamp - The Star Spangled Banner Booklet
SKU: 14-GQZ
Price: 29.99 USD
Availability: InStock
Rating: 5.00 (7 reviews)

2014 49 Star Spangled Banner
Double-sided Pane of 20

This stamp commemorates 200th anniversary of Star-Spangled Banner.The stamps image is from a photo of flag that flies over Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine.It was taken during fireworks display at annual Defenders Day celebration.

During the War of 1812, Mary Pickersgill was commissioned to sew a flag so large that the British will have no difficulty seeing it from a distance.The flag was to fly over Baltimores Fort McHenry, which the British hoped to capture.

Pickersgill was asked to make one American ensign, 30×42 feet, first quality bunting.A smaller flag of lighter materials was also ordered for use during bad weather.Over 400 yards of wool bunting was needed to construct the larger flag, which weighed about 50 pounds.Because of its size, the work was done on the floor of a nearby brewery after the business had closed for the day.

The British began bombarding Fort McHenry on September 13, 1814. Francis Scott Key witnessed the 25-hour assault from a ship in Chesapeake Bay.Because it was raining heavily, Key likely saw the smaller flag at twilights last gleaming.But as morning neared, the oversized flag was defiantly hoisted above Fort McHenry.The sight inspired Key to write lyrics about the star-spangled banner.

If not for fate, the Battle of Fort McHenry would have had a more explosive ending.Only the forts commander knew that its gunpowder magazine, over which some 2,000 shells fell, was not bombproof.A direct hit would have destroyed the fort instantly.

Gary Clark was the photographer for the stamps image.He said it was difficult to get the fireworks and the flag at the same time because it was windy the night he took the photo at the Defenders Day celebration.

Value:49 First-class Rate

Issue Date:January 28, 2014
City:Independence, MO

Type of Stamp:Definitive
Printed By:Ashton Potter USA Ltd.
Printing Method:Offset
Perforations:Serpentine die cut 11 X 10
Self-Adhesive

Quantity:1 billion

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Style	100 Pieces / 5Books

General Questions

A: We legally acquire our postage stamps from businesses and the general public; from leftover business mailings and company liquidations, to wedding invitations and stamp collections. Our process, product acquisition, and transactions are legally backed by our all-star legal team. All transactions are in compliance with the laws of the United States of America.

A: Yes. They are authentic USPS issued postage. All of our postage undergoes a series of tests for authenticity, and is money-back guaranteed to our customers. All fraudulent and counterfeit items we receive are reported to the United States Postal Inspectors Office. We have aided law enforcement in several fraudulent and counterfeit postage cases over the past years, and have direct access to an inspector agent representative specializing in such cases.

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Ordering

A: Yes, these are Forever Stamps so they will always be equal to the value of one ounce, first-class letter in the U.S. The stamps can be used to mail a letter, or towards the total postage cost of any US-PS shipment, or can be saved as a collectible.

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