“Declaration of Independence,” painting by John Trumbull
This unused postcard was found in a jumble box of cards in a local antique mart. It has the code: R-45533 to the left of the dividing line on the reverse. Along the left margin the publisher is identified as: B.S. Reynolds & Co. of Washington, D.C. In the area designated for the stamp is the notation: “Place stamp here. One Cent for United States and Island Possessions, Cuba, Canada and Mexico. Two cents for foreign.” These postal rates were used between 1914 and 1922.
There is a blurb at the upper left corner on the reverse: “Declaration of Independence, U.S. Capitol. Painting by John Trumbull, in the Rotunda of the Capitol, Washington. John Hancock, President of the Congress, is seated at the table, and in front of him stand the Committee of Five—Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Roger Sherman, and Robert L. Livingston.” Note: while the blurb identifies Robert Livingston as Robert L. Livingston, other sources show him as Robert R. Livingston.
John Trumbull, the artist of this famous painting, was born 1756 and died 1843. As a veteran of the Revolutionary War, he was most well-known for painting historical events of that era. Four of his paintings can be found in the United States Capitol rotunda. The Declaration of Independence painting on the postcard can also be found on the reverse of the current $2.00 bill. In addition to group pictures, such as the one on the card, he also painted portraits.
Three of the members of the Committee of Five, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, and Benjamin Franklin, are very famous figures in American history. The two others, Roger Sherman and Robert Livingston, are generally less known. On 11 June 1776 the committee was appointed to draft a statement to outline why the Colonies were seceding from the British Empire. They were allotted 3 weeks to work on the statement. The final version was published as a broadside on 4 July 1776, and the committee dissolved on 5 July 1776.
Roger Sherman (1721-1793), is the only member of the committee who signed all 4 the U.S. state papers, the Continental Association, The Declaration, the Articles of Confederation, and the Constitution. He also proposed the Connecticut Compromise. Although he did not have formal education he became an early American statesman, lawyer, and Founding Father of the United States. Despite not having formal legal training he was encouraged to read for the bar exam and was subsequently admitted to the bar of Litchfield, Connecticut in 1754. He became justice of the peace in 1762, a judge, elected to the Governor’s Council of Connecticut General Assembly, a judge of the Connecticut Supreme Court of Errors, and Justice of the Superior Court of Connecticut. He was also appointed treasurer of Yale College and received an honorary Master of Arts degree. He was married twice and had a total of 15 children, 13 of whom survived to adulthood. He was elected mayor of New Haven in 1784 and held that office until his death at age 72 in 1793.
Robert Livingston, 1746-1813, was also an American lawyer, politician, a diplomat from New York, and a Founding Father of the United States. He helped draft the Declaration of Independence, but was recalled to the state of New York before he could sign it. Livingston was appointed the recorder of New York City for a short time. His association with the anti-colonial Whig Party caused him to be replaced a few months later. He held the position of New York state Chancellor for 25 years. He was the one who administered the oath of office to George Washington when he became the first U.S. president, on 30 April 1789. Livingston was elected a member of the American Philosophical Society in 1801. From 1801 to 1804 he was the U.S. Minister to France and negotiated the Louisiana Purchase. He was a Freemason. He was married to Mary Stevens (1751-1814) and they had two children.
For additional information, see:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Committee_of_Five
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Trumbull
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roger_Sherman
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_R._Livingston
