Extent: One container.

Organization: Organized into two series:

Series I. Context [undated]
Series II. Stamps and covers, 1925–2017; contains three subseries:
Subseries A. Concord, 1925-2017
Subseries B. Famous Americans Commemoratives, 1940
Subseries C. Other, 1975-1983

History: Concord, Massachusetts has inspired many postage stamps over the years. Starting with the 150th anniversary of the Battles of Lexington and Concord in 1925, these stamps have honored famous local events and individuals, including Henry David Thoreau and Louisa May Alcott.

Scope and content: A variety of stamps dating from 1925 through 2017, all relating to Concord, Massachusetts or—more loosely—to the American Revolution, which began at Lexington and Concord. Included are representatives of the 1940 Famous Americans Stamp Series commemoratives and the German American Emigration joint commemoratives, which honored the first ship to carry German emigrants to America, the Concord. Materials consist of both mint and cancelled stamps, first day programs, first day covers, event covers, souvenir sheets, and postcards. Collection includes an essay and an article on Concord stamps by Malcolm Ferguson.

Stamps include: The Battles of Lexington and Concord, April 4, 1925; the United States Bicentennial stamps for Lexington and Concord, April 19, 1975, Bunker Hill, June 17, 1975, Haym Salomon, March 31, 1975, and the Continental Army, July 4, 1975; Henry David Thoreau, July 12, 1967 and May 23, 2017; and Little Women, October 21, 1993. Three Concord post office event covers, November 29, 1938, are also included, one of which is an aerogramme. The 1940 Famous Americans Series in this collection is comprised of two complete display sheets with sections for artists, inventors, authors, and poets, as well as additional stamps and covers of Daniel Chester French, Ralph Waldo Emerson, and Louisa May Alcott. Miscellaneous stamps include the Nathaniel Hawthorne issued in Salem, Massachusetts (July 8, 1983), the Old North Church, November 14, 1975, and the German American Emigration Joint Commemorative, May 5, 1983.

Source of Acquisition: Multiple donors over time.

Associated materials: For additional materials related to the Henry David Thoreau stamps, see the Robert Wilde Collection of materials related to Henry David Thoreau and the Thoreau Society (William Munroe Special Collections, Concord Free Public Library). Concord-related stamps are also found in the Concord Antiquarian Society Collection (CFPL).

Processed by: M. Kilidjian, April 2018; finding aid edited June 3, 2019.

CONTAINER LIST

SERIES I. Context [undated]:

Folder 1: Typescript essay and photocopy of published article on Concord stamps by Malcolm Ferguson; page of notes on Concord stamps in the hand of former CFPL Curator Marcia Moss.

SERIES II. Stamps and covers, 1925 – 2017 [plus undated]:

Subseries A, Concord:

Folder 2: Battles of Lexington and Concord, April 4, 1925-September 12, 1935

Folder 3, Envelope 1: U.S. Bicentennial—Lexington and Concord, April 19, 1975

Folder 3, Envelope 2: U.S. Bicentennial--Bunker Hill, June 17, 1975

Folder 3, Envelope 3: U.S. Bicentennial—Haym Salomon, March 31, 1975

Folder 3, Envelope 4: U.S. Bicentennial—Continental Army, July 4, 1975

Folder 4: Henry David Thoreau, August 9, 1954-May 23, 2017

Folder 5: Little Women, October 21, 1993

Folder 5, Envelope: Concord post office event covers, November 29, 1938 [plus undated]

Subseries B. Famous Americans Commemoratives:

Folder 6: Two complete display sheets with sections for artists, inventors, authors, and poets (1940)

Folder 6, Envelope 1: Daniel Chester French, September 16, 1940

Folder 6, Envelope 2: Ralph Waldo Emerson, 1940

Folder 7: Louisa May Alcott, February 5, 1940

Subseries C. Other:

Folder 8: Old North Church, Boston issue, November 14, 1975

Folder 8, Envelope 1: Nathaniel Hawthorne, Sale­­m issue, July 8, 1983

Folder 8, Envelope 2: German American Emigration Commemorative, May 5, 1983