History of Virginia on stamps

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.

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.^[1]

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."^[3] 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.^[4]

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.^[5]

Martha Washington
1923 issue

Martha Washington
1938 issue

Daniel Boone, 1968 issue

Colonial craftsmen, 1972 issue

Patrick Henry
1955 issue

Printer and patriots
1973 issue

Thomas Jefferson
1861 issue

Declaration of Independence
1869 issue

Washington at Brooklyn
1951 issue

Major George Rogers Clark
1929 issue

Yorktown
1931 issue

Articles of Confederation 1777-1789
1977 issue

Constitution signing 1787
1937 issue

Constitutional ratification 1788
1938 issue

Washington's oath 1789
1939 issue

Bill of Rights 1791
1966 issue

Thomas Jefferson 1801-1809
1856 issue

James Madison 1809-1817
1903 issue

James Monroe 1817-1825
1904 issue

John Marshall 1801-1835
1894 issue

John Marshall 1801-1835
1903 issue

Ordinance of 1787
1937 issue

Kentucky statehood
1942 issue

Purchase negotiation, J. Monroe
1953 issue

Louisiana Purchase
1903 issue

Lewis and Clark
1954 issue

Hardships of emigration
1898 issue

Sam Houston, Stephen Austin
1936 issue

David Farragut and Porter
1965 issue

Lee and Jackson
1937 issue

Robert E. Lee
1955 issue

Wilderness campaign
1965 issue

The Surrender
1964 issue

Sam Houston
1963 issue

David G. Farragut
1903 issue

Booker T. Washington
1940 issue

Walter Reed
1940 issue

Richard E. Byrd
1933 issue

Edgar Allan Poe
1949 issue

George C. Marshall
1967 issue

Grandma Moses
1969 issue

Willa Cather
1973 issue

Carter G. Woodson
1984 issue

Arthur Ashe
2005 issue

Liberty or death - P. Henry
1960 issue

I have sworn hostility -Th. Jefferson
1960 issue

Observe good faith - G. Washington
1960 issue

Mount Vernon
1936 issue

Mt. Vernon
1956 issue

Gunston Hall
1958 issue

Stratford Hall
1936 issue

Monticello
1956 issue

Alexandria old town
1949 issue

Washington and Lee University
1948 issue

Wolf Trap Farm
1972 issue

Appalachian Trail
1983 issue - see footnote link

George Washington
1847 issue

George Washington
CSA 1861 issue

George Washington
1861 USA issue

George Washington
1869 issue

George Washington
1917 issue

George Washington
1938 issue

George Washington
1954 issue

George Washington
1966 issue

Thomas Jefferson
CSA 1862 issue

Thomas Jefferson
1903 issue

Thomas Jefferson
1938 issue

Thomas Jefferson
1968 issue

James Madison
1894 issue

James Madison
1903 issue

James Madison
1938 issue

James Monroe
1925 issue

James Monroe
1938 issue

James Monroe
1954 issue

James Monroe
1958 issue

William Henry Harrison
1950 issue

William Henry Harrison
1938 issue

John Tyler
1938 issue

Zachary Taylor
1875 issue

Zachary Taylor
1938 issue