1987-90 Bicentenary Statehood, set of 13 stamps

# 2336-48 - 1987-90 Bicentenary Statehood, set of 13 stamps

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U.S. #2336-48
1987-90 Bicentenary Statehood Series
Set of 13 Stamps

  • Get the complete set of 13 Bicentenary statehood stamps
  • Connecticut, Massachusetts, South Carolina, New Hampshire, Virginia, New York, and Rhode Island stamps issued on exact dates of statehood anniversaries
  • 11 of 13 stamps issued in the state capitals

Stamp Category:  Commemorative
Series: 
Bicentenary Statehood
Value: 
22¢-25¢, first-class rates
Printed by: 
Bureau of Engraving and Printing and American Bank Note Company
Printing Method: 
Lithographed, engraved, & photogravure
Format: 
Panes of 50 in sheets of 200
Perforations:  11

Why the stamps were issued:  To honor the 200th statehood anniversaries of the first 13 US states.

 

About the stamp designs: 

 

Delaware (#2336): Richard Sheaff worked as designer, art director, and typographer for this stamp.  Based on the state seal, the stamp shows a colonial farmer with a scythe in one hand a model of a sailing ship in the other hand.  This is meant to represent the important role farming, shipbuilding, and coastal business played in the state’s early history.  The stamp also pictures a Revolutionary-era militiaman with a rifle, prepared to defend American liberty. Other symbols found in the seal include a sheaf of wheat and an ear of corn, representing agriculture, an ox, as a symbol of animal husbandry, and the blue stripe, representing the Delaware River, which has long been important to transportation and commerce in the state.  Additionally, the motto “Liberty and Independence” was taken from the Order of the Cincinnati.

 

Pennsylvania (#2337): Richard Sheaff created the design for this stamp based on a National Park Service photograph of Philadelphia’s famed Independence Hall, which had previously been the State House of Pennsylvania.  A tree limb and its shadow were removed from the image for the stamp.  Additionally, the photo was taken in the 1900s, so the building shows a tower that didn’t exist in 1787.  At that time, a spire was on the roof of the small central area.

 

New Jersey (#2338): First-time stamp designer Jim Lamb mocked up a few other designs for this stamp, including colonial hats in the air celebrating statehood and a political discussion outside of a pub.  The final approved design featured an agrarian scene of a farmer carrying a basket of fresh produce.  Lamb posed for a photo to taken by his wife to serve as the model for his painting.  The stamp also shows a flock of ducks flying overhead, signifying the marshes that provide an important flyway for many waterfowl.  After the stamp was released, there was some criticism that it pictured tomatoes, which many thought were poison before the 1800s.  Lamb said he was aware of that, but knew that the state was famous for its “Jersey tomatoes.”

 

Georgia (#2339): Several different designs were submitted for this stamp, including a Scarlett O’Hara-inspired Southern belle, agricultural scenes, sea oats of Georgia’s “Golden Isles,” and a Greek revival column.  The final selected image was submitted by first-time stamp designer and Georgia native Greg Harlin.  It features a watercolor image of a live oak, the state tree, covered in Spanish moss.  The faint skyline of modern Atlanta appears in the background.  It was pointed out after the stamp was released that the oak tree pictured on the stamp is only found along the Atlantic and Gulf coastal plains, so the view of Atlanta in the background was unlikely.

 

Connecticut (#2340):  Connecticut artist Christopher Calle provided several preliminary designs for this stamp depicting the Charter Oak, the state capitol in Hartford, the state bird (robin) with a nutmeg, a statue of Thomas Hooker, and three different images of Nathan Hale.  The selected design pictures the whaling ship Charles W. Morgan in the port at Mystic, Connecticut.  This ship was previously included in the Historic Preservation issue of 1971 (US #1441).  While the scene is an artist’s concept, the buildings in the background are based on real buildings – the Schaefer Tavern and the Mystic Bank.

 

Massachusetts (#2341):  This stamp was designed by Massachusetts resident Richard Sheaff, who also designed the first two stamps in the series.  The stamp image is based on a 1793 engraving titled A Southwest View of the State House, in Boston by S. Hill that was printed in Massachusetts Magazine

 

Maryland (#2342): Maryland resident Stephen Hustvedt provided the watercolor painting for this stamp, his first ever stamp design.  The stamp shows Annapolis from across the harbor on the Severn River.  Skipjack sailboat No. 48, the Clarence Crockett glides along the water.  On the shore in the background the dome of the Maryland State House and St. Anne’s Church can be seen.  The state house that is pictured is the third built on that site, constructed in in 1772, and the oldest state capitol still in use by legislators. Some criticized the fact that the skipjack pictured on the stamp had been built in Virginia, not Maryland.  But the USPS said the ship was meant to represent the state’s oyster industry, regardless of where it was built. The 45-foot skipjack was still in use at the time the stamp was issued, but it sank about a month after the stamp was issued.

 

South Carolina (#2343): Bob Timberlake submitted three watercolor and gouache paintings for the South Carolina stamp.  One pictured the state flower (jasmine), another a live oak tree, and the third, three palmettos (the state tree) surrounded by sea oats.  The palmettos were selected for their instant recognition with South Carolina.  The South Carolina stamp was the first commemorative issued for new 25¢ first-class rate.

 

New Hampshire (#2344): The USPS considered a few different concepts for this stamp before settling on the final design.  These included a circle of linked states that had appeared on a New Hampshire regimental flag during the American Revolution as well as a view of Mount Chocorua.  However, all involved agreed that the people of New Hampshire considered the Great Stone Face to be their state’s most recognizable symbol.  Thomas Szumowski made an acrylic painting of the famed formation, which had previously appeared on a 1955 stamp (US #1068).

 

Virginia (#2345): Pierre Mion traveled to Williamsburg to photograph the restored buildings as the basis for his artwork for this stamp. His image of the Governor’s Palace was turned down because it was too “royal,” but the USPS liked the idea of picturing the Capitol building.  They considered picturing a close-up of the tower, but didn’t think it was recognizable enough.  The final design depicts the building from the street, left of center, with a two-horse carriage passing in front.

 

New York (#2346):  The USPS found the New York stamp perhaps the most challenging of all the stamps in the series.  With its diverse geography, culture, and history, the USPS wasn’t sure which way to go.  They also knew they had to separate New York City from New York State, but not leave it out entirely.  Over the course of the project, four different artists submitted artwork with sketches including Niagara Falls, the NYC skyline, the two superimposed, the Erie Canal, the state seal, a portion of the state seal, a painting of the Hudson River, the “I (heart) New York” slogan and the “Big Apple.” 

 

Eventually, the USPS selected Federal Hall in New York City for the stamp’s main subject.  Located on Wall Street in lower Manhattan, it had once served as New York’s City Hall and housed the Congress of the Confederation.  It was also there that George Washington took his first oath of office as president in 1789, as depicted on a 1939 stamp (US #854).  Bradbury Thompson found an engraving of the building from an interesting perspective, looking up Wall Street toward Broadway.  The engraving came from an old newspaper, but an extensive search was unable to identify the original artist or source, but it’s suspected it may have been created in the 1930s during the Washington Bicentennial. Thompson also added in Trinity Church, which had burned down in 1776 and hadn’t been rebuilt by the date on the stamp.  In response to complaints over this fact, the USPS said the image was reminiscent of the era.

 

North Carolina (#2347):  Bob Timberlake, who had also designed the South Carolina Bicentennial stamp, created the artwork for this stamp.  It pictures a branch of dogwood, the state flower.  All or part of nine flowers can been seen on the stamp against the black background.  The dogwood had previously been included on the North Carolina State Bird and Flower stamp of 1982 (US #1985).

 

Rhode Island (#2348):  The USPS initially hired two artists to create concept sketches for the Rhode Island stamp.  Among their designs were a map of Narragansett Bay, sea shells (representing the nickname “The Ocean State”), a 10-shilling note, and the George Washington, a ship built in Providence. One artist also mocked up several versions of an old-fashioned anchor in various positions and locations.  This was a result of a specific request, because the state seal includes an anchor and the state has a long maritime history.  While many liked the idea, the postmaster general turned it down, saying it wouldn’t carry enough meaning for the people of Rhode Island. 

 

Robert Brangwynne was then asked to create a sketch of the Slater Mill, which still stands in Pawtucket.  The USPS had received several requests for a stamp honoring the mill over the years, and decided that the Rhode Island statehood stamp could be the perfect place to answer those requests.  The design was approved with few changes, but the words “Slater Mill, 1793” were added, making it the only stamp in the series with identifying information about the image included in the design.

 

Special design details:  The Delaware stamp was the first commemorative to be printed with a slightly smaller image area.  The overall stamp dimensions weren’t changed, but the vignette was shortened by 3/100 of an inch to appear better centered.  This was a new practice the USPS was instituting on all stamps.

 

First Day Cities:  The first 11 stamps were issued in the state capitals.  The last two stamps were issued in different cities.  The North Carolina was issued stamp in Fayetteville because that’s where they ratified the Constitution and the Rhode Island stamp was issued in Pawtucket because that’s where the mill pictured on the stamp is located.

 

Unusual fact about these stamps:  A very rare error of the New Jersey stamps exists with the black engraving omitted.  To date, only four are known. 

 

About the Bicentenary Series:  The 1935 Michigan Centenary stamp is often considered America’s first statehood stamp.  However, that stamp actually used the wrong date – Michigan ratified its constitution in 1837, but wasn’t granted statehood until 1837.  The first correct statehood stamp marked the 100th anniversary of Arkansas in 1936.  In the years since, many other statehood stamps were issued.  However, among all these statehood stamps, 13 were missing – the first 13 states that formed our nation.  With this series, the USPS planned to honor those state as they deserved.

 

From 1987-1990, the Bicentenary Statehood Series commemorated the signing of the Constitution by representatives of the first 13 Colonies.  The stamps were issued in the 200th year after each state approved the Constitution.  They were issued in the order each colony became a state, though not always on the exact date of ratification.  Each stamp shows traditional symbols or scenes from the state.

 

History the stamps represent:  In the spring of 1787, delegates from 12 of the 13 states (Rhode Island didn’t participate, as they opposed a national government) met at Independence Hall in Philadelphia to amend the Articles of Confederation. The Constitutional Convention opened on May 4.

 

The members of the convention ultimately drafted the new constitution based largely on the ideas of James Madison and signed it on September 17. In order for the proposed constitution to take effect, at least nine out of 13 states needed to ratify it. Five states ratified it that December, but some states, particularly Massachusetts, were unhappy with it. They felt the Constitution didn’t provide enough protection for freedom of speech, religion, the press, and the right to bear arms. In February 1788, they reached a compromise – those states would ratify the Constitution on the promise that amendments would be adopted to address their concerns. On June 21, 1788, New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify the Constitution, making it legally binding.

 

On March 4, 1789, the Confederation Congress passed the power of the government over to the new US Congress operating under the Constitution. That day, the new Congress met for the first time at Federal Hall in New York City. During that session, James Madison also introduced the first draft of the Bill of Rights for consideration. But neither the House nor the Senate had enough members present to vote, and it would be a month before they all arrived. Finally, that September they agreed on the Bill of Rights and sent it to the states for ratification, which would take two years.

 

After this initial March 4 meeting, Congress moved the first day of business to December 1. However, March 4 would still hold special significance – it would be the last day of Congress’ two-year sessions. It would also be the day a new president was inaugurated. But as it turned out, this created some issues. Following a November election, Congress members that may have lost an election would have to continue to serve in a long “lame duck” session. On two occasions, lame-duck House sessions elected presidents (Thomas Jefferson in 1800 and John Quincy Adams in 1824). And in 1860, lame duck president James Buchanan and a divided Congress saw seven states secede from the Union after Abraham Lincoln was elected.

 

Eventually, the government realized the issues with the March 4 date. In 1933, they passed the 20th Amendment. This amendment set January 3 as the first day of a new Congress and January 20 as inauguration day for the president. It also stated the previous congressional and presidential terms would end just before the new ones began.

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U.S. #2336-48
1987-90 Bicentenary Statehood Series
Set of 13 Stamps

  • Get the complete set of 13 Bicentenary statehood stamps
  • Connecticut, Massachusetts, South Carolina, New Hampshire, Virginia, New York, and Rhode Island stamps issued on exact dates of statehood anniversaries
  • 11 of 13 stamps issued in the state capitals

Stamp Category:  Commemorative
Series: 
Bicentenary Statehood
Value: 
22¢-25¢, first-class rates
Printed by: 
Bureau of Engraving and Printing and American Bank Note Company
Printing Method: 
Lithographed, engraved, & photogravure
Format: 
Panes of 50 in sheets of 200
Perforations:  11

Why the stamps were issued:  To honor the 200th statehood anniversaries of the first 13 US states.

 

About the stamp designs: 

 

Delaware (#2336): Richard Sheaff worked as designer, art director, and typographer for this stamp.  Based on the state seal, the stamp shows a colonial farmer with a scythe in one hand a model of a sailing ship in the other hand.  This is meant to represent the important role farming, shipbuilding, and coastal business played in the state’s early history.  The stamp also pictures a Revolutionary-era militiaman with a rifle, prepared to defend American liberty. Other symbols found in the seal include a sheaf of wheat and an ear of corn, representing agriculture, an ox, as a symbol of animal husbandry, and the blue stripe, representing the Delaware River, which has long been important to transportation and commerce in the state.  Additionally, the motto “Liberty and Independence” was taken from the Order of the Cincinnati.

 

Pennsylvania (#2337): Richard Sheaff created the design for this stamp based on a National Park Service photograph of Philadelphia’s famed Independence Hall, which had previously been the State House of Pennsylvania.  A tree limb and its shadow were removed from the image for the stamp.  Additionally, the photo was taken in the 1900s, so the building shows a tower that didn’t exist in 1787.  At that time, a spire was on the roof of the small central area.

 

New Jersey (#2338): First-time stamp designer Jim Lamb mocked up a few other designs for this stamp, including colonial hats in the air celebrating statehood and a political discussion outside of a pub.  The final approved design featured an agrarian scene of a farmer carrying a basket of fresh produce.  Lamb posed for a photo to taken by his wife to serve as the model for his painting.  The stamp also shows a flock of ducks flying overhead, signifying the marshes that provide an important flyway for many waterfowl.  After the stamp was released, there was some criticism that it pictured tomatoes, which many thought were poison before the 1800s.  Lamb said he was aware of that, but knew that the state was famous for its “Jersey tomatoes.”

 

Georgia (#2339): Several different designs were submitted for this stamp, including a Scarlett O’Hara-inspired Southern belle, agricultural scenes, sea oats of Georgia’s “Golden Isles,” and a Greek revival column.  The final selected image was submitted by first-time stamp designer and Georgia native Greg Harlin.  It features a watercolor image of a live oak, the state tree, covered in Spanish moss.  The faint skyline of modern Atlanta appears in the background.  It was pointed out after the stamp was released that the oak tree pictured on the stamp is only found along the Atlantic and Gulf coastal plains, so the view of Atlanta in the background was unlikely.

 

Connecticut (#2340):  Connecticut artist Christopher Calle provided several preliminary designs for this stamp depicting the Charter Oak, the state capitol in Hartford, the state bird (robin) with a nutmeg, a statue of Thomas Hooker, and three different images of Nathan Hale.  The selected design pictures the whaling ship Charles W. Morgan in the port at Mystic, Connecticut.  This ship was previously included in the Historic Preservation issue of 1971 (US #1441).  While the scene is an artist’s concept, the buildings in the background are based on real buildings – the Schaefer Tavern and the Mystic Bank.

 

Massachusetts (#2341):  This stamp was designed by Massachusetts resident Richard Sheaff, who also designed the first two stamps in the series.  The stamp image is based on a 1793 engraving titled A Southwest View of the State House, in Boston by S. Hill that was printed in Massachusetts Magazine

 

Maryland (#2342): Maryland resident Stephen Hustvedt provided the watercolor painting for this stamp, his first ever stamp design.  The stamp shows Annapolis from across the harbor on the Severn River.  Skipjack sailboat No. 48, the Clarence Crockett glides along the water.  On the shore in the background the dome of the Maryland State House and St. Anne’s Church can be seen.  The state house that is pictured is the third built on that site, constructed in in 1772, and the oldest state capitol still in use by legislators. Some criticized the fact that the skipjack pictured on the stamp had been built in Virginia, not Maryland.  But the USPS said the ship was meant to represent the state’s oyster industry, regardless of where it was built. The 45-foot skipjack was still in use at the time the stamp was issued, but it sank about a month after the stamp was issued.

 

South Carolina (#2343): Bob Timberlake submitted three watercolor and gouache paintings for the South Carolina stamp.  One pictured the state flower (jasmine), another a live oak tree, and the third, three palmettos (the state tree) surrounded by sea oats.  The palmettos were selected for their instant recognition with South Carolina.  The South Carolina stamp was the first commemorative issued for new 25¢ first-class rate.

 

New Hampshire (#2344): The USPS considered a few different concepts for this stamp before settling on the final design.  These included a circle of linked states that had appeared on a New Hampshire regimental flag during the American Revolution as well as a view of Mount Chocorua.  However, all involved agreed that the people of New Hampshire considered the Great Stone Face to be their state’s most recognizable symbol.  Thomas Szumowski made an acrylic painting of the famed formation, which had previously appeared on a 1955 stamp (US #1068).

 

Virginia (#2345): Pierre Mion traveled to Williamsburg to photograph the restored buildings as the basis for his artwork for this stamp. His image of the Governor’s Palace was turned down because it was too “royal,” but the USPS liked the idea of picturing the Capitol building.  They considered picturing a close-up of the tower, but didn’t think it was recognizable enough.  The final design depicts the building from the street, left of center, with a two-horse carriage passing in front.

 

New York (#2346):  The USPS found the New York stamp perhaps the most challenging of all the stamps in the series.  With its diverse geography, culture, and history, the USPS wasn’t sure which way to go.  They also knew they had to separate New York City from New York State, but not leave it out entirely.  Over the course of the project, four different artists submitted artwork with sketches including Niagara Falls, the NYC skyline, the two superimposed, the Erie Canal, the state seal, a portion of the state seal, a painting of the Hudson River, the “I (heart) New York” slogan and the “Big Apple.” 

 

Eventually, the USPS selected Federal Hall in New York City for the stamp’s main subject.  Located on Wall Street in lower Manhattan, it had once served as New York’s City Hall and housed the Congress of the Confederation.  It was also there that George Washington took his first oath of office as president in 1789, as depicted on a 1939 stamp (US #854).  Bradbury Thompson found an engraving of the building from an interesting perspective, looking up Wall Street toward Broadway.  The engraving came from an old newspaper, but an extensive search was unable to identify the original artist or source, but it’s suspected it may have been created in the 1930s during the Washington Bicentennial. Thompson also added in Trinity Church, which had burned down in 1776 and hadn’t been rebuilt by the date on the stamp.  In response to complaints over this fact, the USPS said the image was reminiscent of the era.

 

North Carolina (#2347):  Bob Timberlake, who had also designed the South Carolina Bicentennial stamp, created the artwork for this stamp.  It pictures a branch of dogwood, the state flower.  All or part of nine flowers can been seen on the stamp against the black background.  The dogwood had previously been included on the North Carolina State Bird and Flower stamp of 1982 (US #1985).

 

Rhode Island (#2348):  The USPS initially hired two artists to create concept sketches for the Rhode Island stamp.  Among their designs were a map of Narragansett Bay, sea shells (representing the nickname “The Ocean State”), a 10-shilling note, and the George Washington, a ship built in Providence. One artist also mocked up several versions of an old-fashioned anchor in various positions and locations.  This was a result of a specific request, because the state seal includes an anchor and the state has a long maritime history.  While many liked the idea, the postmaster general turned it down, saying it wouldn’t carry enough meaning for the people of Rhode Island. 

 

Robert Brangwynne was then asked to create a sketch of the Slater Mill, which still stands in Pawtucket.  The USPS had received several requests for a stamp honoring the mill over the years, and decided that the Rhode Island statehood stamp could be the perfect place to answer those requests.  The design was approved with few changes, but the words “Slater Mill, 1793” were added, making it the only stamp in the series with identifying information about the image included in the design.

 

Special design details:  The Delaware stamp was the first commemorative to be printed with a slightly smaller image area.  The overall stamp dimensions weren’t changed, but the vignette was shortened by 3/100 of an inch to appear better centered.  This was a new practice the USPS was instituting on all stamps.

 

First Day Cities:  The first 11 stamps were issued in the state capitals.  The last two stamps were issued in different cities.  The North Carolina was issued stamp in Fayetteville because that’s where they ratified the Constitution and the Rhode Island stamp was issued in Pawtucket because that’s where the mill pictured on the stamp is located.

 

Unusual fact about these stamps:  A very rare error of the New Jersey stamps exists with the black engraving omitted.  To date, only four are known. 

 

About the Bicentenary Series:  The 1935 Michigan Centenary stamp is often considered America’s first statehood stamp.  However, that stamp actually used the wrong date – Michigan ratified its constitution in 1837, but wasn’t granted statehood until 1837.  The first correct statehood stamp marked the 100th anniversary of Arkansas in 1936.  In the years since, many other statehood stamps were issued.  However, among all these statehood stamps, 13 were missing – the first 13 states that formed our nation.  With this series, the USPS planned to honor those state as they deserved.

 

From 1987-1990, the Bicentenary Statehood Series commemorated the signing of the Constitution by representatives of the first 13 Colonies.  The stamps were issued in the 200th year after each state approved the Constitution.  They were issued in the order each colony became a state, though not always on the exact date of ratification.  Each stamp shows traditional symbols or scenes from the state.

 

History the stamps represent:  In the spring of 1787, delegates from 12 of the 13 states (Rhode Island didn’t participate, as they opposed a national government) met at Independence Hall in Philadelphia to amend the Articles of Confederation. The Constitutional Convention opened on May 4.

 

The members of the convention ultimately drafted the new constitution based largely on the ideas of James Madison and signed it on September 17. In order for the proposed constitution to take effect, at least nine out of 13 states needed to ratify it. Five states ratified it that December, but some states, particularly Massachusetts, were unhappy with it. They felt the Constitution didn’t provide enough protection for freedom of speech, religion, the press, and the right to bear arms. In February 1788, they reached a compromise – those states would ratify the Constitution on the promise that amendments would be adopted to address their concerns. On June 21, 1788, New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify the Constitution, making it legally binding.

 

On March 4, 1789, the Confederation Congress passed the power of the government over to the new US Congress operating under the Constitution. That day, the new Congress met for the first time at Federal Hall in New York City. During that session, James Madison also introduced the first draft of the Bill of Rights for consideration. But neither the House nor the Senate had enough members present to vote, and it would be a month before they all arrived. Finally, that September they agreed on the Bill of Rights and sent it to the states for ratification, which would take two years.

 

After this initial March 4 meeting, Congress moved the first day of business to December 1. However, March 4 would still hold special significance – it would be the last day of Congress’ two-year sessions. It would also be the day a new president was inaugurated. But as it turned out, this created some issues. Following a November election, Congress members that may have lost an election would have to continue to serve in a long “lame duck” session. On two occasions, lame-duck House sessions elected presidents (Thomas Jefferson in 1800 and John Quincy Adams in 1824). And in 1860, lame duck president James Buchanan and a divided Congress saw seven states secede from the Union after Abraham Lincoln was elected.

 

Eventually, the government realized the issues with the March 4 date. In 1933, they passed the 20th Amendment. This amendment set January 3 as the first day of a new Congress and January 20 as inauguration day for the president. It also stated the previous congressional and presidential terms would end just before the new ones began.