This stamp celebrates the 200th anniversary of Illinois statehood. Known as the Prairie State, Illinois became the 21st state of the union on Dec. 3, 1818.The stamp art features an outline of the state map with a series of yellow beams radiating upward like the rays of a rising sun.

The Northwest Ordinance of 1787 charted the region that now is Illinois and organized counties. In 1809 the Territory of Illinois was created. During the early years, fur trappers settled the area and southern Illinois was the focus of migration. Statehood was achieved in 1818, although the move was controversial. The population was less than the required 60,000.

Further, to include the Chicago port area, territorial representatives convinced Congress to draw the Illinois border 51 miles to the north of the original boundary as delimited by the Northwest Ordinance. Vandalia, along the Kaskaskia River, was chosen as the capital of the new state, a position it held for 20 years. Strong pressure from Abraham Lincoln brought about moving the capital to Springfield.