American Credo postal issues

The American Credo postal issues (credo is "I believe..." in Latin) were a series of six

The American Credo stamps were printed by the U.S.Bureau of Engraving and Printing in sheets of fifty. Each of the American Credo stamps paid the postage for a one-ounce letter mailed within the United States.The symbols depicted by the stamp issues relate to the credo inscribed in the stamp designs.^[3] Frank P. Conley of New York designed the stamp, issues and Charles R. Chickering modeled the designs. Robert J. Jones was the engraver the of stampdie's frame, and Howard F. Sharpless engraved the vignettes. The first day of issue for the individual stamps occurred at a city or location appropriate to background of the man who uttered the given credo.^[1][2]

• George Washington — First issued January 20, 1960 at Mount Vernon, Virginia. The Credo inscribed on this stamp is taken from George Washington's Farewell Address, an affirmation he wrote to the American people near the end of his second term. The stamp also depicts a small image of a scale ^[1][2]

• Poor Richard's Almanac, 1740.^[1][2]

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• Thomas Jefferson — First Issued May 8, 1960 at Monticello, the home of Thomas Jefferson. The credo is taken from a letter written by Thomas Jefferson in 1800 to Dr. Benjamin Rush , found in the collected Writings of Thomas Jefferson, volume 10.The stamp also depicts a hand bearing a flaming sword ^[1][2]\
  The entire quote reads, "I have sworn upon the altar of God, eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man."^[4]

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• Baltimore, Maryland. The credo is from Key's poem “Defence of Fort M’Henry,” which later became part of the lyrics of “The Star-Spangled Banner”, which was officially adopted as the national anthem of the United States in 1931.^[1][2]

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• New York, NY during the 12th Annual National Postage Stamp Show. The credo is taken from an 1859 letter written by Lincoln to Henry L. Pierce. The stamp also depicts a small image of Lady Freedom ^[1][2]

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• Virginia Convention in 1775. The issue also depicts the torch of freedom.^[1]

See also

• Postage stamps and postal history of the United States
• Army and Navy stamp issues of 1936-1937
• Presidents of the United States on U.S. postage stamps
• Champion of Liberty commemorative stamps
• U.S. Postage stamp locator

Citations

1. ^ ^{a b c d e f g h} Scott Specialized Catalogue of United States Stamps, 2016, pp. 108-109
2. ^ ^{a b c d e f g} Smithsonian National Postal Museum, Outline of Credo Stamps
3. ^ Mystic Stamp Company
4. ^ Jefferson, 1903, v.10, p. 175

Sources

• Houseman, Donna, ed. (2015). 2016 Scott Specialized Catalogue of United States Stamps and Covers. Ohio: Amos Media.
  ISBN 978-0-89487-5045
  .
• "American Credo Issue". Smithsonian National Postal Museum. Retrieved December 20, 2023.
• "American Credo Series". Mystic Stamp Company. Retrieved December 20, 2023.
• Jefferson, Thomas (1903). Bergh, Albert Ellery (ed.). The Writings of Thomas Jefferson Jefferson. Vol. X. Washington, D.C: Issued under the auspices of the Thomas Jefferson Memorial Association.