Saturday, August 27, 2016

Early Commemoratives

The first stamp featuring the US Flag prominently displayed has to be the 5-cent "Fremont on the Rocky Mountains" from the gorgeous 1898 Trans-Mississippian set. A nice mint copy of this stamp would run you ~$200 and a complete set, mint, would approach $5000. John Fremont was an explorer, politician, and a Civil War General. During the 1840's he led several exploration expeditions into the Rocky Mountains. The origin of the stamp design most likely comes from this woodcut image created for Fremont's political run for the 1856 presidency.
Woodcut image designed for a campaign banner or poster
The stamp itself, as you can see, is a very attractive stamp!
Scott #288 Fremont on the Rocky Mountains

information and images from Wikipedia and Library of Congress
http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/2003689276/

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