2c carmine Battle of Monmouth stamp

Issued on October 20, 1928, this stamp commemorated the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Monmouth (New Jersey). The stamp honored Mary Ludwig Hays (nicknamed 'Molly Pitcher'), legendary heroine of the Revolutionary War battle. The wife of an infantry sergeant, Hays carried water to wounded soldiers. She thus earned her nickname. When her husband was wounded, she assumed his position, manning one of the cannons for the battle's duration.

Postmaster General Harold S. New initially resisted issuing the stamp. He finally agreed to an overprinted stamp, using the 2-cent red rotary press regular issue of 1926. The overprint reads 'Molly Pitcher' in two lines.
-Gordon T. Trotter, November 19, 2007

Scott Catalogue USA: 646
mint; perf 11 x 10.5; 2c carmine Washington with "Molly Pitcher" overprint

Museum ID: 1980.2493.2417