Description
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The Pilgrims left England due to disagreements with the Church of England. They sailed to Holland, and stayed there for a time. Eventually, they were persecuted for their faith in this new country as well. The Pilgrims believed they had no choice but to go to the New World and start fresh. After a number of delays, they finally began their journey across the Atlantic on September 6, 1620. This was a particularly dangerous time to sail. It was known to be the season for strong western gales in the North Atlantic.
The Pilgrims sailed Mayflower through several horrific storms on their journey, including one that almost destroyed the main beam of the ship. Luckily, they managed to stabilize the ship, and Mayflower was able to continue sailing. The Pilgrims' determination and dream of living a life of religious freedom allowed them to overcome dire odds and finally reach America.
Other stamps honoring the Pilgrims’ arrival in the New World: The U.S. Postal Service has commemorated the historic event twice before.
#548-50 were issued in 1920 to honor the 300th anniversary (Tercentenary) of the Pilgrims’ arrival. #548 pictures the Mayflower, #549 the actual landing, and #550 the signing of the Mayflower Compact. The Compact was an agreement forged by the newcomers. It created a foundation for self-government in the colony based on majority rule.
Interestingly, #548-50 are the only US postage stamps without a country designation.
In 1970, US #1420 Landing of the Pilgrims, showed Mayflower in the background, and Pilgrims in the foreground. This stamp was issued for the 350th anniversary.
'5 Sheets of 100 First-Class Forever® USPS postage stamps. *The slash over “Forever” in the image is to protect it from being used to produce counterfeit postage. Actual stamps will not have this.
