On February 15, 1958, Postmaster General Arthur E. Summerfield announced that each future “Champion of Liberty” stamp would be issued in two denominations, one at the current domestic letter rate (4-cent) and the other at the then current international rate for first-class surface mail (8-cent). It was clearly the hope of the Post Office Department that these “Champion of Liberty” stamps would carry their message of liberty not only throughout the United Sates but also throughout the world.
Those honored between 1960 and 1961 include: Thomas G. Masaryk, Ignacy Jan Paderewski, Gustaf Mannerheim, Giuseppe Garibaldi, and Mahatma Gandhi.
The United States Postal Service released two stamps honoring Thomas G. Masaryk (1850-1937), the first president of Czechoslovakia, on March 7, 1960, in Washington, DC. As with the preceding four pairs in the Champion of Liberty Series, one of the stamps paid the domestic letter rate (4-cent) and the other paid the international letter surface rate (8-cent).
Masaryk (1850-1937) led a movement for an independent Czechoslovakia during World War I that united Czechs and Slovaks. The independent state of Czechoslovakia was founded on October 28, 1918, and Masaryk served as its president until 1935.
The 4-cent Masaryk stamp, perforated 10 1/2 x 11, was printed on the rotary Cottrell press from 280-subject engraved plates. Each 280-subject sheet was cut into four panes of seventy stamps for distribution to post offices. Four plates were used: 26552, 26553, 26554, and 26555.
William K. Schrage of the Bureau of Engraving and Printing modeled the stamp using as inspiration a bust of Masaryk furnished by the United States Information Agency. Richard M. Bower engraved the portrait, torch, sprays of leaves, and ribbons. George A. Payne engraved the letting and numerals.
References:
Glass, Sol. Champion of Liberty - Masaryk. The Bureau Specialist 32, no. 7 (1961): 163.
Cleland, W. Wallace. Durland Standard Plate Number Catalog. Katy, Texas: United States Stamp Society, 2008.
On March 7, 1960, in Washington, DC, the Post Office Department released two stamps commemorating Thomas G. Masaryk (1850-1937), the first president of Czechoslovakia. During World War I, Masaryk led a movement of Czechs and Slovaks that culminated in an independent Czechoslovakia. The independent state of Czechoslovakia was founded on October 28, 1918, and Masaryk served as its president until 1935.
As with the preceding four pairs in the Champion of Liberty Series, one of the stamps paid the domestic letter rate (4-cent) and the other paid the international letter surface rate (8-cent).
The 8-cent Masaryk stamp, perforated 11, was printed on the rotary Cottrell press from 280-subject engraved plates. Each 280-subject sheet was cut into four panes of seventy stamps for distribution to post offices. Two plates were used: 26557 and 26568. William K. Schrage of the Bureau of Engraving and Printing modeled the stamp from a photo of a bust of Masaryk furnished to the Post Office Department. Richard M. Bower engraved the portrait, torch, sprays of leaves, and ribbons; George A. Payne engraved the lettering and numerals.
References:
Glass, Sol. Champion of Liberty - Masaryk. The Bureau Specialist 32, no. 7 (1961): 163.
Cleland, W. Wallace. Durland Standard Plate Number Catalog. Katy, Texas: United States Stamp Society, 2008.
On October 8, 1960, the Post Office Department released two stamps commemorating Ignacy Jan Paderewski (1860-1941), "Polish Statesman and Artist." Paderewski was a Polish pianist, composer, diplomat, and politician. He served briefly as Poland's prime minister at the end of World War I, and he represented Poland at the Paris Peace Conference in 1919.
The POD held First Day of Issue ceremonies in the Inter-Departmental Auditorium, Washington, DC. As with the preceding seven pairs in the Champion of Liberty Series, the 4-cent stamp paid the domestic letter rate and the 8-cent stamp paid the international letter surface rate.
The 4-cent Paderewski stamp, perforated 10 1/2 x 11, was printed on the rotary Cottrell press from 280-subject engraved plates. Each 280-subject sheet was cut into four panes of seventy stamps for distribution to post offices. Four plates were used: 26742, 26743, 26744, and 26745.
Charles R. Chickering and William K. Schrage of the Bureau of Engraving and Printing modeled the stamp from a photograph by Taylor and Dull, Photographers, New York City, of a painting of Paderewski by Tave Styka. Richard M. Bower engraved the portrait, torch, spray of the leaves, and ribbon; Howard F. Sharpless engraved the lettering and numerals.
References:
Glass, Sol. Champion of Liberty - Paderewski. The Bureau Specialist 35, no. 4 (1964): 136.
Cleland, W. Wallace. Durland Standard Plate Number Catalog. Katy, Texas: United States Stamp Society, 2008.
On October 8, 1960, the Post Office Department released two stamps commemorating Ignacy Jan Paderewski (1860-1941), "Polish Statesman and Artist." Paderewski was a Polish pianist, composer, diplomat, and politician. He served briefly as Poland's prime minister at the end of World War I, and he represented Poland at the Paris Peace Conference in 1919.
The POD held First Day of Issue ceremonies in the Inter-Departmental Auditorium, Washington, DC. As with the preceding seven pairs in the Champion of Liberty Series, the 4-cent stamp paid the domestic letter rate and the 8-cent stamp paid the international letter surface rate.
The 8-cent Paderewski stamp, perforated 11, was printed on the sheet-fed rotary Giori press from 288-subject engraved plates. Each 288-subject sheet was cut into four panes of seventy-two stamps for distribution to post offices. Two plates were used: 26753 and 26763.
Charles R. Chickering and William K. Schrage of the Bureau of Engraving and Printing modeled the stamp from a photograph by Taylor and Dull, Photographers, New York City, of a painting of Paderewski by Tave Styka. Richard M. Bower engraved the portrait, torch, spray of the leaves, and ribbon; Howard F. Sharpless engraved the lettering and numerals.
References:
Glass, Sol. Champion of Liberty - Paderewski. The Bureau Specialist 35, no. 4 (1964): 136.
Cleland, W. Wallace. Durland Standard Plate Number Catalog. Katy, Texas: United States Stamp Society, 2008.
On October 26, 1960, the Post Office Department issued two stamps in the Postmaster General's Reception Room in the Post Office Building, Washington, DC. The stamps commemorated Gustaf Mannerheim (1867-1951), "Liberator of Finland." Ceremonies were also held in Helsinki, Finland, at the US Embassy. Mannerheim (1867-1951), a WW II military and political leader, sought his nation's survival in the face of German demands and Soviet threats. A measure of his success is that Finland did not fall behind the "Iron Curtain" after the war. Mannerheim served as president of Finland from 1944 to 1946.
As with the preceding seven pairs in the Champion of Liberty Series, the 4-cent stamp paid the domestic letter rate and the 8-cent stamp paid the international letter surface rate.
The 4-cent Mannerheim stamp, perforated 10 1/2 x 11, was printed on the rotary Cottrell press from 280-subject engraved plates. Each 280-subject sheet was cut into four panes of seventy stamps for distribution to post offices. Four plates were used: 26755, 26756, 26757, and 26758.
Charles R. Chickering and William K. Schrage of the Bureau of Engraving and Printing modeled the stamp from two photographs of a statue of Mannerheim in Helsinki. Richard M. Bower engraved the portrait, torch, and spray of the leaves. Arthur W. Dintaman engraved the ribbon. George A. Payne engraved the lettering and numerals.
References:
Glass, Sol. Champion of Liberty - Mannerheim. The Bureau Specialist 35, no. 7 (1964): 270.
Cleland, W. Wallace. Durland Standard Plate Number Catalog. Katy, Texas: United States Stamp Society, 2008.
On October 26, 1960, the Post Office Department issued two stamps in the Postmaster General's Reception Room in the Post Office Building, Washington, DC. The stamps commemorated Gustaf Mannerheim (1867-1951), "Liberator of Finland." Ceremonies were also held in Helsinki, Finland, at the US Embassy. Mannerheim (1867-1951), a WW II military and political leader, sought his nation's survival in the face of German demands and Soviet threats. A measure of his success is that Finland did not fall behind the "Iron Curtain" after the war. Mannerheim served as president of Finland from 1944 to 1946.
As with the preceding seven pairs in the Champion of Liberty Series, the 4-cent stamp paid the domestic letter rate and the 8-cent stamp paid the international letter surface rate.
The 8-cent Mannerheim stamp, perforated 11, was printed on the sheet-fed Giori press from 288-subject engraved plates. Each 288-subject sheet was cut into four panes of seventy-two stamps for distribution to post offices. Two plates were used: 26764 and 26769.
Charles R. Chickering and William K. Schrage of the Bureau of Engraving and Printing modeled the stamp from two photographs of a statue of Mannerheim in Helsinki. The portrait, torch, spray of the leaves, and ribbon were engraved by Richard M. Bower. George A. Payne engraved the lettering and numerals.
References:
Glass, Sol. Champion of Liberty - Mannerheim. The Bureau Specialist 35, no. 7 (1964): 270.
Cleland, W. Wallace. Durland Standard Plate Number Catalog. Katy, Texas: United States Stamp Society, 2008.
The Post Office Department released two stamps honoring Giuseppe Garibaldi (1807-1882), the father of "Italian Unification," on November 2, 1960. Garibaldi, an Italian patriot and revolutionary, led an invasion of Sicily in 1860 that led to the unification of Italy under King Victor Emmanuel II.
The POD held the First Day of Issue ceremonies in the Inter-Departmental Auditorium, Washington, DC. As with the preceding seven pairs in the Champion of Liberty Series, the 4-cent stamp paid the domestic letter rate and the 8-cent stamp paid the international letter surface rate.
The 4-cent Garibaldi stamp, perforated 10 1/2 x 11, was printed on the rotary Cottrell press from 280-subject engraved plates. Each 280-subject sheet was cut into four panes of seventy stamps for distribution to post offices. Four plates were used: 26792, 26793, 26794, and 26795.
William K. Schrage of the Bureau of Engraving and Printing modeled the stamp from a contemporary photograph. Matthew D. Fenton engraved the portrait, torch, and spray of the leaves; Arthur W. Dintaman engraved the ribbon; George A. Payne engraved the lettering and numerals.
References:
Glass, Sol. Champion of Liberty - Garibaldi. The Bureau Specialist 35, no. 8 (1964): 307.
Cleland, W. Wallace. Durland Standard Plate Number Catalog. Katy, Texas: United States Stamp Society, 2008.
The Post Office Department released two stamps honoring Giuseppe Garibaldi (1807-1882), the father of "Italian Unification," on November 2, 1960. Garibaldi, an Italian patriot and revolutionary, led an invasion of Sicily in 1860 that led to the unification of Italy under King Victor Emmanuel II.
The POD held the First Day of Issue ceremonies in the Inter-Departmental Auditorium, Washington, DC. As with the preceding seven pairs in the Champion of Liberty Series, the 4-cent stamp paid the domestic letter rate and the 8-cent stamp paid the international letter surface rate.
The 8-cent Garibaldi stamp, perforated 11, was printed on the sheet-fed rotary Giori press from 288-subject engraved plates. Each 288-subject sheet was cut into four panes of seventy-two stamps for distribution to post offices. Three plates were used: 26779, 26788, and 26790.
William K. Schrage of the Bureau of Engraving and Printing modeled the stamp from a contemporary photograph. Matthew D. Fenton engraved the portrait, torch, spray of the leaves, and ribbon; George A. Payne engraved the lettering and numerals.
References:
Glass, Sol. Champion of Liberty - Garibaldi. The Bureau Specialist 35, no. 8 (1964): 307.
Cleland, W. Wallace. Durland Standard Plate Number Catalog. Katy, Texas: United States Stamp Society, 2008.
On January 26, 1961, the last two stamps in the Champion of Liberty Series were issued in the Postmaster General's Reception Room in the Post Office Building in Washington, DC. The stamps commemorated Mahatma Gandhi (1869-1948), "Apostle of Non-Violence." Gandhi was a political and spiritual leader of India who, using civil disobedience and non-violence, led his countrymen to independence from Great Britain in 1947. Postmaster General J. Edward Day presided over the First Day of Issue ceremony. The city of Calcutta, India, hosted a similar ceremony.
As with the preceding four pairs in the Champion of Liberty Series, one of the stamps paid the domestic letter rate (4-cent) and the other paid the international letter surface rate (8-cent).
The 4-cent Gandhi stamp, perforated 10 1/2 x 11, was printed on the rotary Cottrell press from 280-subject engraved plates. Each 280-subject sheet was cut into four panes of seventy stamps for distribution to post offices. Four plates were used: 26864, 26865, 26866, and 26867.
William K. Schrage of the Bureau of Engraving and Printing modeled the stamp. He based it on a photograph of a drawing of Gandhi by Indian artist R. L. Lekhi. Charles A. Brooks engraved the portrait, torch, and spray of the leaves; Richard M. Bower engraved the ribbon; Robert J. Jones engraved the lettering and numerals.
References:
Glass, Sol. Champion of Liberty - Gandhi. The Bureau Specialist 35, no. 12 (1964): 432.
Cleland, W. Wallace. Durland Standard Plate Number Catalog. Katy, Texas: United States Stamp Society, 2008.
On January 26, 1961, the last two stamps in the Champion of Liberty Series were issued in the Postmaster General's Reception Room in the Post Office Building in Washington, DC. The stamps commemorated Mahatma Gandhi (1869-1948), "Apostle of Non-Violence." Gandhi was a political and spiritual leader of India who, using civil disobedience and non-violence, led his countrymen to independence from Great Britain in 1947. Postmaster General J. Edward Day presided over the First Day of Issue ceremony. The city of Calcutta, India, hosted a similar ceremony.
As with the preceding four pairs in the Champion of Liberty Series, one of the stamps paid the domestic letter rate (4-cent) and the other paid the international letter surface rate (8-cent).
The 8-cent Gandhi stamp, perforated 11, was printed on the sheet-fed Giori press from 288-subject engraved plates. Each 288-subject sheet was cut into four panes of seventy-two stamps for distribution to post offices. Two plates were used: 26841 and 26844.
William K. Schrage of the Bureau of Engraving and Printing modeled the stamp. He based it on a photograph of a drawing of Gandhi by Indian artist R. L. Lekhi. Charles A. Brooks engraved the portrait, torch, spray of the leaves, and ribbon; Robert J. Jones engraved the lettering and numerals.
References:
Glass, Sol. Champion of Liberty - Gandhi. The Bureau Specialist 35, no. 12 (1964): 432.
Cleland, W. Wallace. Durland Standard Plate Number Catalog. Katy, Texas: United States Stamp Society, 2008.
