1987 Signers Of The US Constitution FDC Collection

And now, last but not least, the Constitutional Convention delegates from Pennsylvania (the local team had the largest number of delegates!):


Pennsylvania Signers of the US Constitution FDCs

And, with the Pennsylvania Signers FDCs, the presentation of the set is complete!

A few final notes about the collection:

- The Constitutional Convention, the assemblage that drafted the US Constitution, was in session from May 14 to September 17, 1787 (though a quorum of seven states in attendance was not reached until May 25, 1787). The delegates from 12 of the 13 original states (Rhode Island did not send delegates) met in Philadelphia to determine the framework of government to be followed by the states. The Convention was billed as a meeting to amend/fix the Articles of Confederation, but several of the Convention's leaders believed an entirely new structure was needed, not just a tweaking of the Articles. It took time and much debate, but this viewpoint eventually won out and gave rise to the US Constitution and the current US Government framework.

- The set features a first day cover (FDC) that highlights each of the 39 signers of the US Constitution. Though the document was signed by 39 delegates, there were 55 delegates who attended at least a part of the Convention. Fourteen delegate left Philadelphia before the document was ready to be signed and three refused to sign because they did not agree with it. (This appears to leave 38 signers (vs. 39), but keep reading!)

- The facsimile signature of John Dickinson of Delaware featured on his FDC is not actually based on his signature. Dickinson had left Philadelphia prior to the signing of the document (one of the 14 referenced above) and gave his proxy to fellow Delaware delegate George Read to sign for him. The FDC features the Read proxy signature. (Dickinson is the only delegate to leave early but authorize a proxy in his absence.)

- Each cover features Scott #2360 - the USPS 22-cent "Signing of the Constitution" stamp. The stamp was designed by Howard Koslow, and modeled by Esther F. Porter at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP).

- Each cover also includes one of the five 22-cent "Drafting the Constitution" stamps - Scott #s 2355-2359. The stamps were designed by Bradbury Thompson, and modeled by Clarence Holbert at the BEP. The stamps came in a pane of five with four panes in a booklet; the booklet's issue price was $4.40.

- The FDCs have the FDI date of September 17, 1987; they were cancelled in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. These are the issue date and issue location, respectively, for the Scott #2360 - "Signing the Constitution" stamp. The "Drafting the Constitution" stamp booklet was issued on August 28, 1987 in Washington, DC. The August date and DC location are not found on the combination covers.

- Artist Dennis Lyall created the signer cachet found on each cover. As such, the collection has a very consistent "look."

- The "Signers of the Constitution FDC Collection" was a licensed product issued by Fleetwood on behalf of the Commission on the Bicentennial of the US Constitution. The Commission's logo appears on the back (upper right) of each cover.