Champion of Liberty commemorative stamps, also known as the Champion of Liberty series, were a series of nineteen commemorative stamps issued periodically by the United States Post Office between 1957 and 1961 in honor of men who fought for the cause of freedom and independence in their home countries. The stamp issues also served as a political and social statement against the perceived totalitarianism of the Soviet Union during the Cold War. The first day covers were postmarked in Washington D.C. with specially made "First Day of Issue" cancellations that often included a symbol related to the man commemorated on the given issues.[1] [2]
With one exception, each subject depicted on the Champion of Liberty stamps were printed in 4-cent and 8-cent denominations, and were first issued on the same date in the same city. The Magsaysay 8-cent issue of 1957 was only issued in an 8-cent denomination and perforated 11 gauge, while all the other issues were issued in 4-cent and 8-cent denominations and were perforated 10½ by 11 gauge. The 4-cent stamps were printed in one color, while the 8-cent stamps were printed with three colors. All issues were printed by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing on the Giori Press. The Champion of Liberty series of stamps were all first issued in Washington DC, on their respective dates of issue.[1] [3]
----thumb|upright=0.9|Magsaysay, 8c, 1958 issueRamon Magsaysay was a Filipino statesman who served as the seventh president of the Philippines, from December 30, 1953, until his death in an aircraft disaster on March 17, 1957.[4] [5] An oversized stamp issue compared to the others in the series, this is the only Champion of Liberty stamp that was first issued in the year 1957, in Washington DC on August 31 of that year.[6]
----Lajos Kossuth, or Louis Kossuth, was a leader of the Hungarian Revolution, and supported a war for independence from the Austrian Empire. Kossuth became Regent-President of Hungary in 1849. The war ended later that year when the Hungarian forces surrendered to Russia and Austria. Kossuth went into exile, visiting and speaking with officials in the United Kingdom and the United States. He died in exile in Italy.[7] [8] The Lajos Kossuth issue was first Issued in Washington D.C, on September 19, 1958.[9]
----Ernst Reuter was the Mayor of West Berlin from 1948-1953. He was captured and imprisoned by the Nazis in 1933 and release in 1935, after which he went into exile in Turkey, where he remained until the end to the war. He returned to Germany to help rebuild the country. He actively promoted the idea of a unified Berlin and was active in the effort to unify the western sectors. He, assisted with the Berlin Airlift and politically opposed the Soviet Union government. Reuter was the fifth person featured in the Champions of Liberty series, first issued in Washington DC, September 29, 1959.[12] thumb|upright=1.1|left|Ernst Reuter "First Day of Issue" cancellation, September 29, 1959 (detail)
----José de San Martín was a South American soldier and statesman who played a central role in many South American countries' struggle for independence from Spain. San Martín was born in 1778 in what is now Argentina. He attended school in Spain, served in the Spanish army and then became a leader in the movement for liberation of Spanish possessions in South America, helping Argentina, Chile and Peru gain independence.[13] [14] The San Martín commemorative postage stamps were first issued in Washington DC, February 25, 1959.[15] thumb|upright=1.2|left|José de San Martín "First Day of Issue" cancellation, February 25, 1959 (detail)
----Tomáš Masaryk, founder and first president of Czechoslovakia from 1918 to 1935. Following the outbreak of the World War I, Masaryk sought for a separate country for Czechs and Slovaks, independent from the Austria-Hungary Empire. [16] The Masaryk issues were first released in Washington D.C. on the 110th anniversary of his birth, February 25, 1959.[17] thumb|upright=1.1|left|Masaryk, FDC cancellation, February 25, 1959 (detail)
----Giuseppe Garibaldi was an Italian patriot, known for assisting with the reunification of Italy in the 19th century. He participated in revolutionary struggles of Brazil and Uruguay while in exile in South America. Garibaldi returned to Italy in 1848 to fight in its war of independence. He served in military campaigns against Austria and France. Issue in Washington DC, November 2, 1960.[20] thumb|upright=1.1|left|Giuseppe Garibald, FDC cancellation, November 2, 1960----Mahatma Gandhi spent the earlier part of his life advocating for the rights of persons of color in South Africa from 1893 to 1914, where he formed many of his social and political views. In 1915, he began fighting for India's independence through non-violent activism. Gandhi was assassinated in New Delhi on January 30, 1948 by Nathuram Godse, having no belongings other than some clothing and a few other menial items at the time of his death.[23] The Gandhi commemorative stamps were first issued on January 26, 1961, and were the last two stamps issued in the Champion of Liberty Series. They were first issued in the Postmaster General's Reception Room in the Post Office Building in Washington, DC[19] thumb|left|upright=1.23|Gandhi, FDC cancellation, October 26, 1961
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