Honoring the symbols of our nation’s states and territories, the United States Postal Service (USPS) recently unveiled the third set of stamps in its five-year Flags of Our Nation stamp series. MACtac®supplied the pressure-sensitive adhesive label materials for the 500 million stamps that were printed for the third set.

The third set in the series includes nine stamps with flags representing Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi and Missouri with the tenth stamp dedicated to the Stars and Stripes. Each state stamp features a detailed portrait of a state flag as well as additional, sometimes scenic, background elements. The Stars and Stripes stamp includes the national flag as well as “amber waves of grain.” All of the stamps in the third set were created by artist Tom Engeman under the direction of stamp designer Howard E. Paine.

“The dedication and issuance of this third set in the Flags of Our Nation stamp series is perfectly timed as we head into a season filled with holidays designed for the celebration and remembrance of our nation’s history,” said Allison Hazel, marketing manager, MACtac Printing Products. “Supplying the adhesive for this series allows MACtac to play a role in observing these national events while honoring the states and territories that make up our nation.”

The multi-stamp series will include 60 stamps featuring the nation’s flag as well as flags representing the 50 states, five territories and the District of Columbia. Last year, the first two sets were issued in the spring and fall and included the Stars and Stripes as well as state and territorial flags representing Alabama through Kansas, alphabetically. In 2010, the USPS will issue stamps featuring Montana through North Dakota and the U.S.A. Purple Mountains Flag stamp; in 2011, the stamps will feature the Northern Marianas through Tennessee; and in 2012, the series will conclude with stamps representing Texas through Wyoming and the U.S.A. Fruited Plain Flag.

The Flags of Our Nation 44-cent First-Class stamps are printed in coils of 50 and are currently available online atwww.usps.com/shop, by phone at (800) STAMP-24 and at local post offices.

MACtac has been a qualified supplier for USPS stamps for more than six years, providing materials for a number of pressure-sensitive stamps, including “Forever,” “Olympic Games,” “Wedding Rings,” “Simpsons” and “Polar Bear.” For more information about MACtac Roll Label, call (800) 255-9733 or visitwww.MACtac.com/RollLabel.