# 4801 - 2013 First-Class Forever Stamp - Made in America: Building a Nation

US #4801
2013 Made in America

• Celebrate the industrial workers who brought America into a new age

Stamp Category:  Commemorative
Value:  46¢ First Class Mail Rate (Forever)
First Day of Issue:  August 8, 2013
First Day City:  Washington, D.C.
Quantity Issued:  2,500,000
Printed by:  Avery Dennison
Printing Method:  Photogravure
Format:  Panes of 12

Why the stamps were issued:  According to the USPS, these stamps were issued “to honor the men and women who helped build this country with their own hands… They mined the coal that warmed our homes.  They made the clothes we wore on our backs.  Let each stamp serve as a small reminder of the dedication, work ethic, and sacrifices that make America great.”

About the stamp designs:  Includes 12 different stamp designs picturing black and white vintage photographs of male and female industrial workers.  Eleven were taken by photographer Lewis Hine, with the twelfth by Margaret Bourke-White.  The USPS said “Stamps are like a miniature American portrait gallery.  They are an expression of our values and a connection to our past.  That’s why it’s so fitting that this series depicts Americans at work.  These iconic images tell a powerful story about American economic strength and prosperity.  These men and women and millions like them really did build a nation.”

First Day City:  The First Day of Issue Ceremony was held at the Frances Perkins Building, part of the Department of Labor in Washington, DC.

History the stamp represents:  At the beginning of the 20^th century, some experts were predicting machines would take over many industrial jobs, forcing people out of work.  Photographer Lewis Hines drew a different conclusion.  He said, in fact, “The more machines we use the more do we need real men to make and direct them.”

Artists like Hine captured on film the dignity and pride of average workers.  Rather than focusing on the buildings and machinery that marked the progress of the industrial age, he showcased the people who carried out their work diligently six days each week.

The building of America was dangerous during that time and accidents were commonplace.  Employees accepted the risks as part of the position.  In the midst of the Great Depression, people were grateful to have any job and worked long hours for low wages.  Basic survival needs outweighed workplace perils.

Those who built the Empire State Building faced danger every day as they worked without hard hats or harnesses.  They balanced on steel beams or wooden planks with the skill of tightrope walkers.

Women found work in America’s mills, producing textiles for consumers across the country and around the world.  Those who were fortunate enough to receive an education were sometimes employed in publishing houses as linotypers.

Miners extracted the coal that powered the factories and towns.  The risk of the tunnel’s collapse or the buildup of gases were ever-present dangers.

Lewis Hine documented Americans creating our nation’s railroads, airplanes, and buildings.  Without his images, the faces of those who operated our presses, mined our coal, and built the foundations of our industries, would be lost forever.