Justin Smith Morrill

One of Vermont’s most historic figures, Justin Smith Morrill, was honored on July 17 with a new 55-cent postage stamp issued by the U.S. Postal Service during a ceremony at the Morrill homestead in Strafford.

Morrill's contribution helped changing the face of education in the country by making sure there would be money to finance educational facilities and there would be continual government support of these institutions. Morrill was the chief proponent of the Land Grant Acts of 1862 and 1890, which provided for the endowment and support of the land grant colleges, the forerunners of many state universities. The first bill was signed by President Abraham Lincoln and authorized the granting of public land to each state, the revenue from which had to be used for supporting at least one college dedicated primarily to teaching agriculture and mechanical arts.

Morrill served in the House of Representatives for 12 years and in the Senate for 32 years. Until recently, this service in the House and Senate constituted the longest period of continuous service in the United States Congress. Millions of people have graduated from the 105 land grant colleges and universities spawned by his grand vision.

                                                TECHNICAL DETAILS
 

     Issue:                 Justin Morrill
     Denomination & Type:   55-cent Definitive
     Format:                Self-Adhesive pane of 20 (1 design)
     Series:                Great Americans
     Issue Date & City:     July 17, 1999, Strafford, VT 05072
     Illustrator:           Burt Silverman, New York, NY
     Designer:              Howard Paine, Delaplane, VA
     Engraver:              N/A
     Art Director:          Howard Paine, Delaplane, VA
     Typographer:           John Boyd, New York, NY
     Modeler:               Banknote Corporation of America, Inc. (BCA)
     Manufacturing Process: Intaglio
     Printer:               Banknote Corporate of America, Inc. (BCA)
     Printed at:            Browns Summit, NC
     Press Type:            Epikos 5009
     Stamps per Pane:       20
     Print Quantity:        100 million stamps
     Paper Type:            Pre-phosphored Type 1
     Gum Type:              Self-adhesive
     Processed at:          BCA, Browns Summit, NC
     Colors:                Black
     Stamp Orientation:     Vertical
     Image Area:            17.53 x 20.32 mm
     Overall Size:          21.34 x 25.15 mm
     Full Pane Size:        122.68 x 128.02 mm
     Plate Size:            240 stamps per revolution
     Plate Numbers:         "B" followed by one (1) single digit
     Marginal Markings:     "© USPS 1998" · Plate Numbers · Price · 
                            Plate Position Diagram