Front:
Wheel Chair 1920s
Wheel Chair 1920s
84 USA
84 USA
UCSON
AZ
12
1988
85726
Nonprofit
profit
Back:
WHEELCHAIR
First Day of Issue: August 12, 1988
First Issue Location: Tucson, Arizona
For centuries, the wheelchair has given mobility to the
handicapped. In 1595, King Philip II of Spain had a special
“gout chair” which moved on wheels and had curved
metal bars, notched to position the reclining back and leg
rests in various positions. The arm rests could be reclined
as well. Philip's servant once noted, “though it was but of
wood, leather and ordinary iron, it was worth ten times its
weight in gold and silver" for His Majesty's comfort. In the
18th century, John Dawson became known as a “wheel-
chair maker." His Bath chair had a steering mechanism
and a canvas hood for outdoor use. By 1871, the wheel-
chair was being used in America. Ironically, the bicycle
craze of the 19th century greatly improved the
wheelchair's mechanics — wire spoked wheels replaced
wooden wheels, and then rubber tires cushioned the
wire. The automobile inspired the mass production of
lightweight, collapsible wheelchairs. Today, wheelchairs
are a common sight almost everywhere there are people.
No. 88-45
©1988 The Maximum Card Collection
A Division of Unicover Corporation • Cheyenne, WY 82008-0007
Original painting by Basil Smith