Front:
ARKANSAS
OF THE
ROCK
Arkansas
Statehood
1836-1986
JAN
1986
Old State House
Little Roc
USA22 2231
it
AR
OF
ARKAN
SAS
GREAT
Back:
ARKANSAS STATEHOOD
First Day of Issue: January 3, 1986
First Issue Location: Little Rock, Arkansas
Blessed with rich river-fed lowlands, rugged highlands
and deep green mountain hollows, Arkansas lives up to
its state's nickname: “Land of Opportunity." Occupied
by Indian tribes for centuries, the riches of Arkansas
remained unknown to the western world until the
Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto arrived in 1541.
Later, French explorers claimed Arkansas and the entire
Mississippi Valley for France as part of the Louisiana
Territory. In 1803, the French government agreed to sell
this vast tract of land to America. As eager settlers moved
westward, Arkansas' population grew ... and on June
15, 1836, Arkansas was admitted to the Union as the
twenty-fifth state. However, at the time of Arkansas'
statehood, the nation was engaged in the great debate
over slavery. When the Civil War erupted, Arkansas
joined the Confederacy. At the end of the bitter Civil
War, Arkansas was readmitted to the Union in 1868.
America saluted Arkansas on her 150th year of statehood
with the United States' very first stamp issue of 1986.
No. 86-1
©1986 The Maximum Card Collection
A Division of Unicover Corporation • Cheyenne, WY 82008-0007
Original painting by Jim Butcher.
