As the Maryland Tercentenary Commission prepared for its celebration of the Province of Maryland's 300th anniversary, it prepared a small booklet that it sent out in response to inquiries and as part of its general promotional efforts.
In addition to providing some brief Maryland history - in words and illustrations - the booklet also briefly addresses Commission projects such as the Memorial Cross on St. Clements Island, the restored State House in St. Mary's City and the new (circa 1934) Maryland Hall of Records in Annapolis. The centerfold of the booklet presents a historical map of St. Mary's County that highlights many local historic sites. (Note: The illustrations in the booklet originally appeared in the 1933 book by Matthew Page Andrews,
The Founding of Maryland; Andrews wrote the Foreword to the Commission's booklet.)
Along with the booklet, the Commission sent a returnable postcard that folks could use to indicate to the Commission their intentions regarding the tercentenary celebrations in St. Mary's City. No doubt, an attempt to gauge the size of the crowd that would descend upon the rural St. Mary's City area to participate in the event.
My booklet included at least two of the postcards - neither was completed/returned - but may have had one or more others that were returned.
The booklet did not publicize the commemorative half dollar as it had not yet been authorized by Congress at the time of its printing.
Maryland Tercentenary Celebration - Promotional Booklet, Front Cover
The cover features an illustration by Edwin Tunis (1897-1973), an author and artist. The drawing was adapted for use on the Maryland Tercentenary stamp.
Maryland Tercentenary Celebration - Maryland Tercentenary Stamp
(Image Credit: National Postal Museum, Smithsonian Institution. Fair use, education.)Maryland Tercentenary Celebration - Maryland Charter Scene
Maryland Tercentenary Celebration - Governor Calvert Illustration
Maryland Tercentenary Celebration - Barter with Indians Illustration
Maryland Tercentenary Celebration - St. Mary's County Historical Map, Top
Maryland Tercentenary Celebration - St. Mary's County Historical Map, Bottom
Maryland Tercentenary Celebration - Interest Postcard, Front
Maryland Tercentenary Celebration - Interest Postcard, Back
For other of my posts about commemorative coins and medals, including other stories of the Maryland half dollar, see:
Commems Collection.
Posted 10/16/2023 4:15 pm
