The 1978 Harriet Tubman stamp marks the beginning of the U.S. Postal Service's Black Heritage series and pays homage to a woman of extraordinary courage and resilience. Born into slavery, Tubman escaped to freedom in 1849. But she did not stop there. Over the next decade, she made numerous perilous journeys back to the South to guide more than 300 enslaved people to freedom via the Underground Railroad, a secret network of safe houses and abolitionists. Her knowledge of the terrain, her unwavering faith, and her sheer determination made her one of the most successful "conductors" on the Railroad. During the Civil War, she served as a spy and a nurse for the Union Army, further demonstrating her commitment to the cause of freedom. This stamp, with its powerful and dignified portrait of Tubman, is a fitting tribute to a true American hero who dedicated her life to the liberation of others.