X2901

Uncle Sam

National Personification of the United States

Summer 2024 Mail Sale Commentary 

Lot 29 X2901 — Uncle Sam — 11-9-98

Uncle Sam is a common national personification of the federal government of the United States. During the War of 1812, the U.S. Army received supplies from a variety of organizations and individuals, one of which was Samuel Wilson, a meat packer from Troy, New York. He labeled his barrels of beef with "US" to indicate government property, but soldiers referred to the "US" as Uncle Sam (Wilson). During World War I, Uncle Sam was used for recruiting soldiers for the American Army. The slogan was "I want you for the US Army" and shows Uncle Sam pointing his finger at the viewer. He is still a recognizable figure today. The hand-painted cover is red, white and blue. The two 22-cent stamps, showing Uncle Sam saluting, add to the overall cover. This patriotic first day cover has not appeared in my previous mail sales.