On November 19, 1960, just thirteen days after the 100th anniversary of the 1860 Presidential Election, the Post Office Department issued a stamp featuring Abraham’s Lincoln’s famous words:
“Those who deny freedom to others deserve it not for themselves.”
The stamp was the fifth of the American Credo Issue which included stamps featuring famous quotes from George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson and Francis Scott Key. The Post Office Department stated that the goal of the series was to “re-emphasize the ideals upon which America was founded and to honor those great Americans who wrote or uttered the credos.” The Lincoln stamp resembles the other stamps issued earlier in the series, containing the quote and the signature of the honored individual. A seated figure representing freedom with an olive branch also adorns the Lincoln stamp.
The Post Office Department issued the stamp at the twelfth annual National Postage Stamp Show, sponsored by the American Stamp Dealers Association. The dedication for the stamp occurred at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City. The National Urban League, an organization that advocates economic and educational advancements among African Americans, sponsored the event in conjunction with their jubilee celebration.
