John Hanson 20c

USD 0.30

John Hanson Issue

A 20-cent commemorative stamp honoring John Hanson, the American Revolutionary patriot from Maryland, was issued November 5, 1981, in Frederick, Maryland. The stamp designer was Ron Adair of Dallas, Texas, and the modeler was Clarence Holbert.

John Hanson was the first president of the Continental Congress under the Articles of Confederation. He was elected on November 5, 1781, and thus is regarded by some as the "first president of the United States." However, the office of president of the United States was not officially created until the US Constitution was adopted, so Hanson was president of the Continental Congress and not the chief executive of the United States.

Hanson served one year as the "President of the United States in Congress Assembled." Under his administration, peace terms were initiated, treaties were negotiated, and government departments were organized.

The stamp was printed in the photogravure process, with fifty stamps per pane.