Illinois Statehood Postage Stamps | Statehood Issue | Prairie Farm | Vintage Unused USPS Postage 6c
Illinois Statehood Postage Stamps | Statehood Issue | Prairie Farm | Vintage Unused USPS Postage 6c
Add Midwestern heritage and Prairie State charm to your letters with these vintage unused “Illinois Statehood” postage stamps! This classic commemorative design is perfect for adding regional history, agricultural character, industrial symbolism, and patriotic meaning to save-the-dates, wedding invitations, thank you cards, graduation announcements, travel-themed mailings, Illinois correspondence, and other snail mail. In pristine mint condition and valid for current postage use, each stamp holds a face value of 6-cents. These authentic USPS postage stamps are suitable for current mailing when used with the total required postage based on the weight of your mailing.
STAMP INFORMATION:
- Stamp Name: Illinois Statehood
- Stamp Series: Illinois Statehood 150th Anniversary
- Year Issued: 1968
- Face Value: 6-cents (USD) per stamp
- Topic(s): Illinois, Statehood, 150th Anniversary, Agriculture, Farm, Clouds, Industry, Midwest, Prairie State, U.S. States, American History
- Color(s): Dark Blue, Blue, Red, Yellow, Ocher, Multicolored
- Mailing Occasions: Wedding Invitations, Save-the-Dates, Illinois Weddings, Chicago Weddings, Midwest Mailings, Farm-Inspired Weddings, Patriotic Correspondence, Graduation Announcements, Thank You Notes, Travel Mail, Everyday Correspondence
- Printing Method: Lithographed and Engraved
- Scott Number: 1339
- Adhesion Type: Gummed (see adhesion instructions below)
- Stamp Size: 40.0 x 25.0 mm / 1.57 × 0.98 in
- Condition: Genuine Unused USPS Postage Stamps, Ready to Use for USPS Mailings, Mint Condition
STAMP DESCRIPTION & HISTORY: The 1968 Illinois Statehood stamp was issued to commemorate the 150th anniversary of Illinois’ admission to the Union. The commemorative honors Illinois’ place in American history as the 21st state, featuring a farm on the Prairie with dramatic clouds overhead artwork, and reflects the state’s strong identity as a center of agriculture, transportation, industry, and civic development in the Midwest. This 6-cent stamp was issued on February 12, 1968, in Shawneetown, Illinois, and was printed by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing using lithographed and engraved methods.
STAMP MEANING & SPIRITUAL SIGNIFICANCE: Illinois statehood imagery evokes rootedness, productivity, civic pride, resilience, and connection to the American heartland. With its Midwestern agricultural and industrial associations, this stamp carries a sense of hard work, growth, community, and enduring regional identity. It is especially fitting for Illinois weddings, Chicago mailings, farm-inspired celebrations, graduation announcements, patriotic correspondence, travel notes, and messages honoring home, heritage, or a meaningful milestone.
STAMP SERIES HISTORY: The Illinois Statehood stamp was issued as a single commemorative marking the 150th anniversary of Illinois becoming a state. Illinois was admitted to the Union on December 3, 1818, when President James Monroe signed legislation granting statehood. The issue reflects the U.S. Post Office Department’s tradition of commemorating state anniversaries with imagery tied to each state’s history, landscape, economy, and civic identity. For Illinois, the sesquicentennial stamp honored the Prairie State’s role in American expansion, agriculture, industry, and Midwestern history.
GENUINE USPS POSTAGE: These unused vintage postage stamps are perfectly valid for use as current postage for mailing with USPS as long as you use the adequate amount of postage to achieve standard postage rates according to the weight of your mailing. Check current postage rates at USPS.com.
GUMMED STAMPS: These postage stamps have a traditional moisture-activated gum on the back. These stamps require licking or wetting to adhere to envelopes or other surfaces. To ensure good adhesion, apply vintage gummed stamps to your mailings with a glue stick (we recommend using Elmer's "Re-Stick" glue sticks).
QUESTIONS? We love hearing from our customers and replies to inquires are usually answered the same day. Need more of this stamp? Looking for a particular stamp not found on our website? Want a curated postage set for your special event? Contact us with questions about vintage postage stamps and our services…
TELL YOUR STORY IN STAMPS: We’ve worked with hundreds of couples and their stationers to custom design highly stylized personalized postage sets based on our customer’s life stories. We can help you curate personalized vintage postage sets to commemorate your save-the-date, wedding, shower, announcement, and other special occasions in a truly unique fashion. Drawing on our encyclopedic knowledge of every stamp ever issued by the USPS, and sourcing from our extensive inventory of collectable unused vintage stamps, we’ll help you tell your unique story in stamps!
ABOUT HERITAGE POST HOUSE: Jennifer Kramer is the founder of Heritage Post House, a boutique vintage postage house located in Northern California. Jennifer sources the most beautiful unused vintage postage stamps ever issued by USPS and artfully arranges them into curated postage sets that are sure to add a special touch to your invitations, announcements, and special mailings. In addition to creating pre-arranged postage sets, Jennifer also works with couples (and their stationers) to create one-of-a-kind custom postage arrangements for wedding invitations, save the dates, and other special occasions.
SCROLL DOWN TO VIEW QUANTITY BASED PRICING
Product features
Product features
- Unused/uncanceled stamps
- Mint condition
- Limited circulation, collectable
- Postage value is face value printed on stamps
- USPS genuine and authentic postage
- Ready to use for mailing today
Handling and care
Handling and care
- Vintage stamps should be handled with care
- Do not expose to moisture
- Store unused stamps in provided glassine envelopes
- Store in a cool dark place
- Avoid long exposure to UV light
- Handle with clean/dry hands, cotton gloves, or tweezers
Application and use
Application and use
- Carefully weigh and measure each mail piece to determine required postage
- Check current postage rates at USPS.com
- Multiple stamps may be necessary to meet required postage for mailing
- Extra postage may be required for envelopes with a wax seal, ribbon, thicker than 1/4-inch, doesn't bend, square shaped, or irregular size
- Your local post office will confirm how much postage is required for your particular mailing
- Gummed stamps should always be applied to your mailing with a glue stick (we recommend Elmer's "Re-Stick" glue sticks)
FREE shipping available
FREE shipping available
- FREE shipping available for all orders over $49 — eligibility calculated after coupons and discounts are applied during checkout
- Expedited shipping and rush order processing available when selected before finalizing your order; consult our Shipping Policy for more details
Shop with confidence
Shop with confidence
- 15 day return window for most stamps (excludes special orders and custom curated stamp sets); consult our Refund Policy for return requirements and details
- USPS package tracking on all orders
- All orders are insured by USPS for up to $100 of loss or damage
- Additional shipping insurance available for purchase for higher value orders
- Visit our FAQ for answers to frequently asked questions
Tell your story in stamps
Tell your story in stamps
- We’ve worked with hundreds of couples and their stationers to custom-design highly stylized personalized postage sets based on our customer’s life stories.
- We can help you curate personalized vintage postage sets that will commemorate your save-the-date, wedding, shower, announcement, and other special occasions in a truly unique fashion.
- Drawing on our encyclopedic knowledge of every stamp ever issued by the USPS, and sourcing from our extensive inventory of collectable unused vintage postage stamps, we’ll help you tell your unique story in stamps!
- Engage our custom curation services today and we’ll do the work for you…
Have questions?
Have questions?
- Questions about this or other stamps? We love hearing from our customers and replies to inquires are usually answered the same day. Contact us with questions about vintage stamps and our services.
- Need more of this stamp? We usually have access to more quantity than is shown here on our website. If you need more of any stamp, please contact us with the stamp name and quantity desired. We’ll email you with a price quote based on the quantity desired and an estimated delivery timeline.
- Looking for another stamp? We have ready access to virtually every USPS postage stamp ever issued. If you are looking for a particular stamp, please contact us with the stamp name and quantity desired. We’ll email you with a price quote based on the quantity desired and an estimated delivery timeline.
- Need a custom curated postage set? When you engage our custom curation services we do all the work for you. We have helped hundreds of customers by designing custom-curated postage for save-the-dates, wedding invitations, bridal shower invitations, birth announcements, reunion invitations, and more! We’d be delighted to help you tell your story in stamps…
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