History of Virginia on stamps: Difference between revisions

;Mexican American War

 

[[Winfield Scott]] was the U.S. hero of the [[Mexican American War]], conquering Mexico City. He recommended Virginia born [[Zachary Taylor]] from Kentucky for command of the northern U.S. army.<ref>"Scott, Winfield", Webster's Guide to American History. 1971. op. cit., pp.1220</ref> Territory added to the nation was called the [[Mexican Cession]], filling out the U.S. [[manifest destiny]] to occupy the North American continent from the Atlantic to the Pacific, from "sea to shining sea".<ref>"Canada and Mexico", Webster's Guide to American History. 1971. op. cit., p. 672.</ref>

 

* The [[Battle of Chancellorsville]] was commemorated with a 32-cent stamp issued in the American Civil War Issue of June 29, 1995. Explanatory text is imprinted on the back of each stamp, issued in a sheet of 20 commemorative Civil War stamps. An image of the stamp is available at Arago online at the link in the footnote.<ref>"32c Battle of Chancellorsville single", Arago: people, postage & the post, National Postal Museum online, viewed May 7, 2014. An image of the stamp is available at Arago, [http://arago.si.edu/index.asp?con=2&cmd=1&id=192353 Battle of Chancellorsville stamp].</ref>

 

[[West Virginia]] became a state following the [[Wheeling Convention]]s. Fifty northwestern counties of Virginia whose population had been underrepresented in the General Assembly were successfully admitted to the Union as a new state on June 20, 1863. West Virginia statehood was commemorated on its 100th anniversary with a 5-cent stamp on June 20, 1963. Designed by Dr. Dwight Mutchler of Ohio University, the map's outline is red against a white background. The stamp was printed on the Giori press with a printing of 120 million.<ref>"100th Anniversary West Virginia statehood", Arago: people, postage & the post, National Postal Museum online, viewed. April 20, 2014.</ref>

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===World Wars===

In World War I, training facilities were set up in Virginia, shipbuilding expanded and the Hampton Roads served as [[Hampton Roads Port of Embarkation]] for the United States Army.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Huston |first1=James A. |year=1966 |title=The Sinews of War: Army Logistics 1775—1953 |series=Army Historical Series |volume = |location=Washington, DC |publisher=Center Of Military History, United States Army |isbn= 9780160899140|lccn=66060015 |page=348 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Y8pabWzrsocC&pg=PR1 |accessdate=23 October 2014}}</ref> Virginia-born president Wilson was the war president for World War I. The World War I Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is located at the Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington Virginia. The Arlington Cemetery Amphitheater is commemorated in the Fourth Bureau Issue of the 1920s. The 50-cent was issued on November 11, 1922, the first anniversary of the entombment of the World War I Unknown Soldier on the Armistice day prior. The original tomb is featured in the stamp foreground, based on a photograph and designed by Clair Aubrey Huston. The original simple tomb was covered in 1931 with today's more elaborate sarcophagus.<ref>Juell, Rod. "50-cent Arlington Amphitheater", Arago: people, postage & the post, National Postal Museum online, viewed April 20, 2014.</ref> {{clear}}

 

===Recent Virginia===

 

 

Shipbuilding in the [[Hampton Roads]] continues to be a major industry. The [[Naval Station Norfolk|Norfolk Navy Base]] is one of the largest in the world.

 

==Big ideas and landmarks==

The Thomas Jefferson Memorial in Washington, D. C. was commemorated with a 10-cent regular stamp issued on December 14, 1973. The stamp features the introductory phrase to the Declaration of Independence, "We hold these truths…" authored by Jefferson. The neoclassical building was dedicated to the third president of the United States in 1943. It hosts annual Memorial events, Easter Sunrise Services, and the Cherry Blossom Festival.<ref>"Jefferson Memorial Issue", Arago: people, postage & the post, National Postal Museum. Viewed March 18, 2014.</ref> Thomas Jefferson authored the [[Virginia Statute of Religious Freedom]] which disestablished the Anglican Church in Virginia. Here religious freedom is commemorated at the earlier [[Flushing Remonstrance]].

 

 

==Virginia's presidents==

Eight U.S. presidents have been born in Virginia. Besides those born and raised and elected from Virginia, presidents born in Virginia made their careers in other states, William Henry Harrison in Indiana, Zachary Taylor in Louisiana and in the army, Woodrow Wilson in New Jersey.

 

James Madison appears on the 4-cent 1938 Presidential Series stamp, the fourth president of the United States. Madison, the "Father of the Constitution" proposed the system of checks and balances in three branches of federal government at the Constitutional Convention. Two varieties of the 4-cent were printed, a sheet stamp and sidewise coil. Not widely used at first, it later met the 4-cent met domestic airmail postcards and domestic first class letter after 1949.<ref>Shapiro, Jeff. "4-cent Madison", Arago: people, postage & the post, National Postal Museum online, viewed April 22, 2014.</ref>

 

 

* James Madison was honored of the commemorative issued October 18, 2001, the 250th anniversary of his birth. His home at [[Montpelier (Orange, Virginia)|Montpelier]], is featured in the background. The "father of the Constitution", Madison played a leading role in creating the Bill of Rights. He was Jefferson's secretary of state before ascending to the presidency himself. The Banknote Corporation of America printed 32 million stamps in the offset/intaglio process in a gummed pane of twenty. An image of the USPS stamp may be seen at the link to Arago online in the footnote.<ref>"James Madison Issue", Arago: people, postage & the post, National Postal Museum online, viewed April 20, 2014. An image of the stamp can be seen at Arago, [http://arago.si.edu/index.asp?con=1&cmd=1&mode=1&tid=2044944 James Madison stamp].</ref>

James Monroe was celebrated on his birthday April 28, 1958 on its 200th anniversary with a 3-cent stamp issued at Montross, Virginia. The stamp was designed by Frank P. Conley, taken from a Gilbert Stuart portrait. It was printed with the rotary process with 120 million stamps authorized.<ref>"James Monroe Issue", Arago: people, postage & the post, National Postal Museum online, viewed April 23, 2014.</ref>

 

 

;William Henry Harrison

William Henry Harrison appears on the 9-cent 1938 Presidential Series stamp, the ninth president of the United States. Harrison was a hero of the Indian Wars and the War of 1812. He was the first president to die in office, thirty days into his term. Harrison's likeness was inspired by a bust in the Rotunda of the Virginia State Capitol. The 9-cent was used to pay for a three-ounce first class postage, or three-ounce Pan-American postage.<ref>Shapiro, Jeff. "9-cent Harrison", Arago: people, postage & the post, National Postal Museum online, viewed April 22, 2014.</ref>

 

 

;John Tyler and Zachary Taylor

Zachary Taylor appears on the 12-cent 1938 Presidential Series stamp. The twelfth president of the United States, Taylor was a soldier for over forty years. "Old Rough and Ready" was said to have never lost a battle, and he became a national hero during the Mexican War. He died after sixteen months in the presidency. The 12-cent was used for special delivery for a local letter.<ref>Shapiro, Jeff. "12-cent Taylor", Arago: people, postage & the post, National Postal Museum online, viewed April 22, 2014.</ref>

 

 

;Woodrow Wilson

Woodrow Wilson was honored on the 17-cent Series of 1922, the Fourth Bureau Issue, issued on December 28, 1926. Following his recent death, it can be considered a memorial to Wilson. Wilson's widow provided the photograph which designer Clair Aubrey Houston used for the image. The 17-cent paid the combined first-class postage and registration fee.<ref>Juell, Rod. "17-cent Wilson", Arago: people, postage & the post, National Postal Museum online, viewed April 22, 2014.</ref>