Since my primary collecting focus is U.S. revenue stamps of the Civil War era, I occasionally run across non-revenue items from that era that capture my fancy. This cover is just such an item. It captures what is to me an important sentiment of that (or any) period.
I'm not sure if this would be considered a patriotic cover, an advertising cover, both, or neither. Regardless of what it would be classified, I love the design and the message.
Background:
Monmouth College, located in Monmouth, Illinois is a private Presbyterian college, founded in 1853. At the start of the Civil War it was still in its fledgling stages. Quoting from "Monmouth College in the Civil War" by William Urban:
The summer of 1862 was a difficult one for the college. So many students enrolled for military service that many faculty members feared that the college would close. [College] President [David Alexander] Wallace decided differently. He inserted the following advertisement in the Monmouth Atlas:The undersigned takes this method of stating that it is the full determination of the Faculty to resume the exercise of the College on the 2d day of next September. It is expected that every member of the Faculty will be at his post at the opening of the session.
We must educate, whether there be peace or war.
David A. Wallace
President of Monmouth CollegeThe cover in question:
Posted 10/06/2013 10:05 pm
