HISTORY OF UNITED STATES' PRESIDENTS
PORTRAYED BY POSTMARKS

Produced by Anthony J. Kostelnicek (1907-1996)  -  Web posting by Richard J. Kostelnicek (1942- )
Use arrow keys or mouse wheel to move between Presidents or select President by clicking on his named button.
Mouse over the colored date and place text below each Presidental cover to hilight the postmarks referenced.

On this page you can view philatelic covers (mailed, stamped envelopes) having multiple postmarks relating to historical United States Presidential events by clicking on the buttons at the left or right.

Each President's full name and term of office is displayed above his philatelic cover.

The postmarks on the left side of all covers, except for George Washington, portray the first and last name of the President, and were postmarked on historical dates as described beneath each cover. The postmark in the upper right corner shows the place and date of birth, while the lower right shows that of death. In the instance of the George Washington, the upper left postmark shows place and date of birth and the upper right shows the place and date of death. The two lower postmarks portray his first and last name, and were canceled on the indicated historical dates.

In a few cases, because there are no post offices named John, William, Theorore, and Harry the postmark of President, PA was used instead of their first name.

These Presidential covers were mailed between 1932-33, just before and during during the first year of the Chicago World's Fair, except for Presidents Roosevelt and Truman which were completed in 1945. There are altogether 122 postmarks on the covers and it was necessary to make that number of mailings. The aggregate mileage which the envelopes covered traveling back and forth, ammounted to approximately 75 thousand miles.

On the envelopes are affixed 55 different United States postage stamps, and in most instances appropriate commerative stamps portraying Presidential events were used.

The U. S. Post Office no longer allows the placement of multiple postmarks on a single envelope. Furthermore, some of the Postal Stations that postmarked these covers are out of service. Hence, it is no longer possible to create philatelic memorabilia like these Presidential Historical Covers.

A comrehensive listing of Presidential life span, term of office, and time in retirement can be found at Wikipedia .

1789 - George Washington - 1797

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George Washington was born February 22 , 1732, at Washington's Birthplace, VA . He was Commander-In-Chief of the armies and brought the Revolution to an end at Yorktown, on October 19 , 1781. On April 30 , 1789, he was inaugurated first President. He died on December 14 , 1789, at his home, Mount Vernon , VA.

1797 - John Adams - 1801

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President John Adams was born October 30 , 1735, in Quincy, MA . He was a signer of the Declaration of Independence, and on September 3 , 1783, he signed the Treaty of Peace with England. On April 30 , 1789, he was inaugurated first Vice President. He died on July 4 , 1826, In Quincy, MA , the city of his birth.

1801 - Thomas Jefferson - 1809

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Thomas Jefferson , author of the Declaration of Independence and founder of the Democratic Party, was born April 13 , 1743, in Shadwell, VA . While President, on May 2 , 1803, Louisiana Purchase was acquired, and on August 17 , 1807, Fulton sailed his steam ship. He died on July 4 , 1826, at Monticello, VA .

1809 - James Madison - 1817

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James Madison , who earned for himself the title of Father of the Constitution , was born in King George, VA , on March 16 , 1751. In his administration, war was declared against England on June 19 , 1812, and on August 25 , 1814 Washington D.C. was captured and burned. He died June 28 , 1836, at Montpelier, VA .

1817 - James Monroe - 1825

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James Monroe was born April 28 ,1758, near Monroe Hall, VA . During his term, the first Atlantic Steamship crossing was achieved by the Savanna, which left port on May 24 , 1819. His monumental peace document, The Monroe Doctrine was adopted December 2 , 1823. He died July 4 , 1831, in New York, NY .

1825 - John Quincy Adams - 1829

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President John Quincy Adams , the son of the country's second President, was born July 11 , 1767, in Quincy, MA . He signed a treaty of peace, December 24 , 1814, ending the war of 1812. During his term, the Erie Canal was opened, on November 4 , 1825. After serving his country 55 years, he died in Washington, DC , February 23 , 1848.

1829 - Andrew Jackson - 1837

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Andrew Jackson was born in a log cabin, on March 15 , 1867, in Waxhaw, NC . His indomitable courage brought a crushing defeat to the British, on January 8 , 1815, in the battle of New Orleans. WHile President, Texas obtained her freedom from Mexico, April 21 , 1836. He died at Hermatige, TN , June 8 , 1845.

1837 - Martin Van Buren - 1841

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Martin Van Buren was born in Kinderhook, NY , on December 5 , 1782. He was the first President born under the American flag, rather than the British. During his administration of office, in 1838, the SS Sirius crossed the Atlantic in nineteen days, April 4 - April 22 . He died in Kinderhook, NY , July 24 , 1862.

1841 - William Henry Harrison - 1841

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President William Henry Harrison , who occupied the White House only one month, was born February 9 , 1733, near Charles City, VA . Defeating the Indians in the battle of Tippecanoe, November 7 , 1811, and the battle of Thames, October 5 , 1813, he sprang into prominence. He died in Washington, DC , April 4 , 1441.

1841 - John Tyler - 1845

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President John Tyler was born on March 29 , 1790, in Greenway, VA . He became President on April 6 , 1841, the first Vice-President to succeed to the Presidency through death. In his term, the first telegraph message was transmitted May 29 , 1844. Siding with the Confederacy, he died January 17 , 1862, in Richmond VA .

1845 James - Knox Polk - 1849

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James Knox Polk , the first dark horse to win the nomination for Preesident, was born near Charlotte, NC , on November 2 , 1795. His term marked the greatest territorial conquest. The Mexican War, declared May 13 , 1846, ended in a treaty signed February 2 , 1848. He died in Nashville, TN , June 15 , 1849.

1849 - Zachary Taylor - 1850

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Zachary Taylor was born November 24 , 1784, in Orange County, VA . He served in the war with Mexico and was victories in the first battel, May 8 , 1846. Another victory was gained in the battle of Buna Vista, February 23, , 1847. He died July 9 , 1850, in Washington, DC , serving only one year and four months.

1850 - Millard Fillmore - 1853

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Millard Fillmore was born January 7 , 1800, near Locke NY , and ascended to the presidency, July 10 , 1850, upon Taylor's death. During his term, California was admitted to the Union, the Omnibus Bill was passed on September 18 , 1850, and Perry opened Japan to commerce. He died March 8 , 1850, in Buffalo, NY .

1853 - Franklin Pierce - 1857

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Franklin Pierce was born November 23 , 1804, in Hillsboro, NH . His administration marked the beginning of the Civil War, the repeal of the Missouri Compromise, and passing of the Kansas-Nebraska Bill May 30 , 1854. The Gadsden Purchase was acquired on June 30 , 1854. He died on October 8 , 1869, in Concord, NH .

1857 - James Buchanan - 1861

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James Buchanan , the bachelor President, was born on April 23 , 1791, near Mercersburg, PA . During his term, the Dred Scott Decision was rendered on March 6 , 1857, and the Atlantic Cable was laid on August 16 , 1858, over which cane the first flash from Queen Victory. He died June 1 , 1868, in Lancaster, PA .

1861 - Abraham Lincoln - 1865

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Abraham Lincoln was born in Hodgenville, KY , February 12 , 1809. The Civil War began a few days after his inaugration, and in January 1 , 1863 his Proclamation freed all slaved. On November 19 , 1863, he made that famous Gettysburg Address. He died bu the hand of an assassin in Washington, DC , April 15 , 1865.

1865 - Andrew Johnson - 1869

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Andrew Johnson , thrust into the Presidency by the tragic assassination of Lincoln, was born December 29 , 1808, in Raleigh, NC . During his term, the broken Atlantic Cable was completed July 27 , 1866, and Alaska was purchased on March 30 , 1867. He died near Carter, TN , July 31 , 1875.

1869 - Ulysses Simpson Grant - 1877

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Ulysses Simpson Grant was born in Point Pleasant, OH , April 27 , 1822. He became the leader of the Union forces during the Civil War, which ended when Lee surrendered April 9 , 1865. In his term, the first railroad to the Pacific was completed on May 10 , 1869. He died on July 23 , 1885, in Mt. McGregor, NY .

1877 - Rutherford Birchard Hayes - 1881

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Rutherford Birchard Hayes was born in Delaware, OH , on October 4 , 1822. It was during his term that the Resumption of Special Payments began June 17 , 1879, and Edison's first successful operation or the electric light bulb was performed on October 21 , 1879. He died January 17 , 1893, in Fremont, OH .

1881 - James Abram Garfield - 1881

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James Abram Garfield , last of the log cabin Presidents, was born November 19 , 1831, near Warrensville, OH . He served in the Civil War and defeated Marshall January 10 , 1862. His election to Congress caused him to resign from the Army on December 5 , 1863. He died September 19 , 1881, in Elberton, NJ .

1881 - Chester Alan Arthur - 1885

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Chester Alan Arthur was born in Fairfield, VT , October 5 , 1830. The Presidency was thrust on his sholders September 20 , 1881, upon the death of Garfield. To him must be given credit for that famous Civil Service Law, which was passed January 4 , 1883. He died November 18 , 1866, in New York, NY .

1885 - Grover Cleveland - 1889   1st term

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Grover Cleveland was born on March 18 , 1837, in Caldwell, NJ . The start of his second term was marred by a tragic panic and railroad strike. On May 1 , 1893, he opened the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago, and August 12 , 1896, a resolution was passed to annex Hawaii to U.S.A. He died on June 24 ,1908, in Princeton, NJ .

1889 - Benjamin Harrison - 1893

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Benjamin Harrison , grandson of President William Harrison, was born August 20 , 1833, in North Bend, OH . Soon after his inaugration, Oklahoma was purchased from the Indians April 22 , 1889. The revolution in Hawaii broke out January 14 , 1893. He died on March 13 , 1901, in Indianapolis, IN .

1893 - Grover Cleveland - 1897   2nd Term

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Grover Cleveland was born on March 18 , 1837, in Caldwell, NJ . The start of his second term was mared by a tragic panic and railroad strike. On May 1 , 1893, he opened the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago, and August 12 , 1896, a resolution was passed to annex Hawaii to U.S.A. He died on June 24 ,1908, in Princeton NJ .

1897 - William McKinley - 1901

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President William McKinley was born January 29 , 1843, in Niles, OH . His Tariff Reduction Bill, known as the McKinley Bill, was passed October 6 , 1890. Not long after his inaugration the S.S. Maine was sunk in Cuba and war with Spain was declared April 25 , 1898. He died September 14 , 1901, in Buffalo, NY .

1901 - Theodore Roosevelt - 1909

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President Theodore Roosevelt was born October 27 , 1858, in New York, NY . During his administration, the Wright Brothers made the first airplane flight on December 17 , 1903, in Kitty Hawk, NC. On May 9 , 1904, work was started on the Panama Canal. He died in Oyster Bay, NY , January 6 , 1919.

1909 - William Howard Taft - 1913

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President William Howard Taft was born in Cincinnati, OH , September 15 , 1857. During his administration, on January 3 , 1911, the Postal Savings Bank was established. He was appointed Chief Justice of the Supreme Court on June 30 , 1921, and served at that post until his death in Washington, DC , March 8 , 1930.

1913 - Woodrow Wilson - 1921

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Woodrow Wilson , teacher of the Science of Popular Government, was born December 28 , 1856, in Staunton, VA . During his term, on May 15 , 1918, airmail service was established. On November 11 , 1918, an armistice was signed ending the World War, which started in 1914. He died February 3 , 1924, in Washington, DC .

1921 - Warren Gamaliel - Harding 1923

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Warren Gamaliel Harding , the first newspaper editor to occupy the executive chair, was born near Marion, OH , November 2 , 1865. In his term, war ceased with Germany by Congress on July 2 , 1921. The Naval Armament Bill was signed February 6 , 1922. He died on August 2 , 1923, in San Francisco, CA .

1923 - Calvin Coolidge - 1929

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Calvin Coolidge was born July 4 , 1872, in Plymouth, VT . The Kellogg Treaty, signed in Paris August 27 , 1928, was approved by him January 17 , 1929. Silent Cal , as he was labeled by newspaper men, died on January 5 , 1933 in Northampton, MA .

1929 - Herbert Clark Hoover - 1933

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Herbert Clark Hoover was born in West Branch, IA , August 10 , 1874. On July 24 , 1929, he put into effect the Kellogg Pact, and on September 26 , 1932, he laid the corner stone of the Benjamin Franklin Postal Station in Washington, DC.

Note: President Hoover had not yet died (October 20, 1964) when multiple postmarks were forbidden by the Post Office Department.

1933 - Franklin Delano Roosevelt - 1945

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Franklin Delano Roosevel t was born in Hyde Park, NY , on January 30 , 1882. inaugurated March 4 , 1933, he immediately gave the people a New Deal. The Beer Bill, one of the first accomplishments in his term, was passed on April 7 , 1933. He died while at Warm Springs AR, April 12 , 1945. He was buried at Hyde Park, NY .

1945 - Harry S. Truman - 1953

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President Harry S. Truman was born in Lamar, MO on May 8 , 1884. He succeeded to the Presidency upon Roosevelt's death, and on June 26 , 1945 he opened the San Francisco Conference. On August 14 , 1945 Japan agreed to surrender terms. He died on December 26, 1972 in Kansas City, MO, and is burried in Independence, MO.

Note: President Truman had not yet died (December 26, 1972) when multiple postmarks were forbidden by the Post Office Department.