Prestige booklet features Old Glory

Since Sept. 11, 2001, Americans increasingly have been wary of terrorism and threats of terrorism, at home and abroad.
And, after that date, Americans began displaying the flag in homes and cars, and even on clothing.
The U.S. Postal Service issued a 28-page document, the Old Glory prestige booklet, which gives a look at more than 200 years of American flag history. Written and designed by Richard Sheaff, this booklet is only the second published by the USPS. The cost for the 20 stamps in the booklet is the face value of $7.40.
Available with the Old Glory prestige booklet are five colorful 37-cent stamps representing an array of patriotic items. They include: an example of 20th-century folk art featuring Uncle Sam riding a high-wheel bicycle; Benjamin Harrison's 1888 presidential campaign badge; a souvenir bookmark from the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition; a modern Stars and Stripes folding fan; and a 19th-century hand-painted carving of a woman holding a sword and a U.S. flag.
Flag approved
The first official flag, known as the Stars and Stripes or Old Glory, was approved by the Continental Congress on June 14, 1776.
A year before, according to a popular story, George Washington called upon a Philadelphia seamstress named Betsy Ross to make a new American flag. This cannot, however, be confirmed by historians; nobody knows for sure if it's true or -- if not -- who did design the flag.
In 1818, Congress passed legislation fixing the number of stripes at 13 and required that the number of stars equal the number of states. The last new star, bringing the total to 50, was added on July 4, 1960, after Hawaii became a state.
An added note from the Postal Service: The U.S. flag appears in some 100 different stamp designs -- but it's not always in the spotlight. On some issues, Old Glory is so small that a magnifying glass would be needed to see it.
The prestige booklets and the special strip of five are available at most U.S. post offices. You can also call the toll-free number (800) STAMP-24 to order. Or, you can log on to www.usps.com to visit the Postal Store.