The history of Virginia through the colonial period on into contemporary times has been depicted and commemorated on postage stamps accounting for many important personalities, places and events involving the nation's history. Themes are particularly rich in early American and new nation history, historical landmarks, and Virginia-born presidents.

Commonwealth of Virginia The Commonwealth of Virginia has been commemorated on stamps in its state flag, state bird and state flower.

The Virginia State Flag represents the Commonwealth of Virginia's love of freedom. It was commemorated on a 13-cent stamp as a part of the American Bicentennial Issue: Flag Series on February 23, 1976. It was the first pane with fifty different stamps ever issued. The design adopted in 1861 is deep blue field containing a circular white center bordered with a garland and the Latin motto "Sic Semper Tyrannis", Thus always to tyrants. The vignette is of two figures, both in ancient warrior garb, acting out the motto. The woman, Virtue, represents Virginia, the fallen tyrant is a man holding a scourge and chain.D'Avino, Doug. "13-cent Virginia", Arago: people, postage & the post, National Postal Museum online, viewed April 23, 2014.

The USPS issued the Virginia cardinal and flowering dogwood stamp on April 14, 1982, as a part of the State Birds & Flowers issue. An image may be seen at the link to Arago online in the footnote."20c Virginia single", Arago: people, postage & the post, National Postal Museum online, viewed April 21, 2014. See an image at Virginia cardinal and flowering dogwood stamp

Events and eras

Jamestown and settlement In 1907, the U. S. Post office issued a series of three stamps in honor of the Jamestown Exposition, held that year in Norfolk between April 26 and December 1 to celebrate the 300th anniversary of the Jamestown settlement in 1607. The 1-cent stamp features a portrait of Captain John Smith, promoter and commander, credited with the colony's success. As governor, Smith ended the "Starving Time" with his dictum, "He that will not work, shall not eat."Wallenstein, Peter. op.cit., p. 17. The image is taken from an engraving by Simon de Passe. This stamp paid the one-cent post card rate; 78 million were produced.

The red 2-cent stamp depicts the English colonists' landing, with Smith's ship The Discovery in the background. This issue paid the first-class domestic rate; 149 million were printed. The 5-cent portrays Pocahontas, who was instrumental in the colony's survival: her marriage to John Rolfe of tobacco fame resulted in peaceful relations between the settlers and the neighboring Powhatan tribes throughout her lifetime.Wallenstein, Peter. op.cit., p. 19-20.

The engraved portrait of Pocahontas is modeled on a likeness by Simon Van de Passe created in 1616, which appeared in a book published by John Smith in 1624. The 5-cent paid large weight and foreign destination rates; about 8 million were issued.Haimann, Alexander T., "Jamestown Exposition Issue", Arago: people, postage & the post, National Postal Museum online, viewed. April 19, 2014.

Jamestown, Virginia settlement was commemorated on its 400th anniversary with a 41-cent stamp issued on May 11, 2007. The stamp is triangle-shaped as was the original fort located there. The selvage area on the front of 20-stamp sheets showed a painting of early Jamestown by Richard Schlect, reviewed by archeologists then excavating the original site. Banknote Corporation of America printed 60 million in the offset process with microprint "USPS"."400th Anniversary Settlement of Jamestown Issue", Arago: people, postage & the post, National Postal Museum online, viewed May 7, 2014. An image of the stamp is available at Arago, Settlement of Jamestown 400th stamp.

Important Virginia colonial women included Virginia Dare, first born English child at Roanoke, the lost colony.Wallenstein, Peter. op.cit., p. 10. A 5-cent postage stamp "In memory of Virginia Dare, born Roanoke 1587" was issued on the 350th anniversary of her birth on August 18, 1587. She was born to Eleanor and Ananias Dare, the first born of European parents on the North American continent. The vignette pictures an idyllic scene with a well clothed family, substantial garden, spinning wheel and garden produce. In reality the colonists lived miserably and were presumed slain by Native Americans.Trotter, Gordon T., "Virginia Dare Issue", Arago: people, postage & the post, National Postal Museum online, viewed. April 19, 2014. The issue realized a design drawn by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt on White House stationery, faithfully reflecting his accompanying written suggestions that the stamp be baby blue in color and square in shape."Virginia Dare - The Lost Colony ", National Postal Museum, "Mail to the Chief: the Stamp Designs of Franklin Delano Roosevelt", viewed April 23, 2014.

Widow Martha Custis married George Washington enhancing his status as a colonial gentleman, from which he launched his public career.Wallenstein, Peter. op.cit., p. 59. Martha Washington, America's first "First Lady" was also the first American woman to appear on stamps, featured in the series of 1902 on the 8-cent denomination, and later appeared on the 4-cent value in the so-called "Fourth Bureau Issue": the 1922-1931 Series (which comprised 27 stamps). The Fourth Bureau stamp employed an engraving based on a drawing by French artist Charles Francois Jalabert. It was printed on both the flatbed press and the Stickney rotary press and offered in sheet and coil versions.Juell, Rod. "4-cent Martha Washington", Arago: people, postage & the post, National Postal Museum online, viewed. April 19, 2014.

In the 1938 Presidential Series, Martha Washington on -cent stamp was only one of three non-presidential subjects, and the only woman represented. Her likeness comes from a bust at the Memorial Continental Hall Museum. The -cent rate paid the third class "greeting card" rate in effect from April 1925 to December 1948.Shapiro, Jeff. "1-1/2-cent Martha Washington", Arago: people, postage & the post, National Postal Museum online, viewed. April 19, 2014.

Daniel Boone was honored with a 6-cent stamp in the American Folklore Series on September 26, 1968, at Frankfort, Kentucky, where he was buried. He was a famous frontiersman in the development of Virginia, Kentucky and the trans-Appalachian west. A wall of roughly-hews boards displays the tools of Boone's trade—a Pennsylvania rifle, a powder horn, and a knife. The pipe tomahawk represents that the Shawnees had adopted Boone. His name and birth date was carved on the wall."1968 American Folklore Issue", Arago: people, postage & the post, National Postal Museum online, viewed March 16, 2014.

Colonial craftsmen were commemorated in the 8-cent stamps on July 4, 1972, at Williamsburg Virginia. Designed by Leonard Everett Fisher, they depicted glassblowing, silver making, wig making and hat making, all colonial crafts authentically re-enacted at Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia.Brody, Roger S., "1972 American Bicentennial Craftsmen Issue", Arago: people, postage & the post, National Postal Museum online, viewed. April 26, 2014.

Revolution and Constitution Revolution

Patrick Henry was a leader in the Virginia House of Burgesses who opposed Britain imposing restrictions on the American colonies. Virginia petitioned the King and Parliament for redress without success. Following his attending the First Continental Congress, Henry's resolves in the second Virginia Convention were published in the Virginia Gazette and widely reprinted in other colonial papers, influencing other colonial legislatures.Wallenstein, Peter. op.cit., p. 70-71.

Patrick Henry was featured on the 1-dollar value of the Liberty Series issued October 7, 1955. He served as governor for three terms, but is best known for his speech as a delegate, "Give me liberty or give me death." He wrote and published profusely over his lifetime. The portrait by Alonzo Chappel inspired the image of Henry captured in the stamp's "simple picture frame effect".Rod, Steven J., "1-dollar Henry", Arago: people, postage & the post, National Postal Museum online, viewed. April 19, 2014.

Thomas Jefferson, principal author of the Declaration of Independence, was honored with a 5-cent stamp at the onset of the American Civil War. The stamp was used in combinations for postage to France and other foreign destinations. The National Bank Note company printed approximately 175,000 of this Classic Period stamp in several shades.Haimann, Alexander T., "5-cent Jefferson", Arago: people, postage & the post, National Postal Museum online, viewed July 21, 2014. The signing of the Declaration of Independence was commemorated with a 24-cent stamp in 1869. The stamp reproduces John Trumbull's painting in the U.S. Capitol rotunda, in an image 1/300th the size of the original. The National Bank Note Company printed 235,350 stamps of this 24-cent issue.Haimann, Alexander T., "24-cent Signing of the Declaration of Independence", Arago: people, postage & the post, National Postal Museum online, viewed March 24, 2014. In the Second Continental Congress, George Washington was unanimously elected to lead the Continental Army besieging Boston. He personally commanded campaigns in the north.Wallenstein, Peter. op.cit., p. 76-77.

Washington saving his army at Brooklyn was commemorated on a 3-cent stamp at the 175th anniversary on December 10, 1951. The vignette shows Washington directing troops at Fulton Ferry house. Troops in the background are seen crossing the East River."175th Anniversary of Battle of Brooklyn Issue", Arago: people, postage & the post online, National Postal Museum. Viewed April 15, 20014.

Major George Rogers Clark commanded Virginia rangers capturing Vincennes in the western theater.Wallenstein, Peter. op.cit., p. 74. The George Rogers Clark issue of February 25, 1929 commemorated the 150th anniversary of the British surrender in 1779 at Vincennes, Indiana. The U.S. conquest of the Northwest Territory led to extending its boundary west to the Mississippi River by the Treaty of Paris (1783). The stamp's vignette was inspired by a painting by Frederick C. Yohn, "Surrender of Fort Sackville".Trotter, Gordon T., "George Rogers Clark Issue", Arago: people, postage & the post, National Postal Museum online, viewed. April 19, 2014.

The climactic battle of the Revolutionary War was the Battle of Yorktown which led to the Treaty of Paris (1783) recognizing U.S. independence by Great Britain. Washington was assisted by French troops under General Rochambeau, guns and a French naval victory under Admiral DeGrasse.Wallenstein, Peter. op.cit., p. 80.

The Revolutionary War in Virginia was commemorated by a pair of 18-cent stamps on October 16, 1981, at Yorktown Virginia. The designer was Cal Sacks of Westport, Connecticut. The Battle of the Virginia Capes USPS stamp can be seen at Arago, Virginia Capes 1781 stamp The sea battle was fought September 5, 1781 between the French under Admiral Comte Grasse protecting a supply convoy to Washington, against the British fleet under Admiral Sir Thomas Graves attempting to relieve Cornwallis. The Battle of Yorktown USPS stamp can be seen at Arago, Yorktown 1781 stamp. The land battle was a joint operation between General Washington and General Rochambeau laying siege to the British under General Cornwallis at Yorktown. Cornwallis surrendered on October 19, 1781. It was the final battle of the American Revolution."American Bicentennial Issue", Arago: people, postage & the post, National Postal Museum online, viewed April 21, 2014.

Constitution and beginnings