US #1376-79 were issued the day before the congress opened.
On August 23, 1969, the US Post Office issued a set of four stamps for the 11th International Botanical Congress (IBC).
They were the first US stamps that honored flora from each of the four corners of the United States. They were also the first to include Latin names.
US #1405 – Edgar Lee Masters
On August 22, 1970, the US Post Office issued the first stamp in the American Poet Series.
Prior to this series, there had been a relatively small number of stamps honoring American poets. Most notably, five poets were honored in 1940 as part of the Famous Americans Series – Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, John Greenleaf Whittier, James Russell Lowell, Walt Whitman, and James Whitcomb Riley. Other poets previously honored on stamps included Edgar Allan Poe and Francis Scott Key.
US #1022 was issued for the ABA’s 75th anniversary. It pictures a section of the frieze from the walls of the US Supreme Court Room. Click image to order.
On August 21, 1878, the American Bar Association (ABA) was formed in Saratoga Springs, New York.
Lawyers played an important role in forming the United States. Many delegates to the Constitutional Convention were attorneys, and quite a few of our early presidents practiced law. Until the late 1800s, a person who had been an apprentice to a lawyer could train to become one himself. In Indiana, the constitution stated any citizen and voter of good character could begin a law practice.
US #308 was the first Series of 1902-03 stamp to go on sale.
Benjamin Harrison was born in North Bend, Ohio, on August 20, 1833. Harrison’s family was among the first families of Virginia, arriving in 1630.
The second of ten children, Harrison did not grow up in a wealthy household, despite his family’s distinguished roots. His father chose to spend the farm’s income on his children’s education. Young Harrison spent much of his childhood outdoors hunting and fishing. Benjamin was seven when his grandfather, William Henry Harrison, was elected president of the United States. They’re the only grandfather and grandson to serve as US presidents.
US #3659 – Nash was the 18th honoree in the Literary Arts Series. Click image to order.
Ogden Nash was born on August 19, 1902, in Rye, New York.
Nash was descended from Abner Nash, a governor of North Carolina whose brother, Francis, was a Revolutionary War general and the namesake of Nashville, Tennessee. Nash’s father ran an import-export business and moved the family often.
US #3188b from the Celebrate the Century series. Click image to order.
On August 18, 1969, Jimi Hendrix ended Woodstock with a two-hour performance that included one of the most iconic moments in music history.
During the turbulent 1960s, the hippie culture opposed traditional values and violence. In 1969, four visionaries saw a chance to bring people together and show the world there was another way to live – with freedom and love.
