SYD KRONISH | Stamps U.S. Postal Service to honor Ohio University

U.S. postcards have come a long way since the first 1-cent card was issued in 1875. These were simple -- just a plain card (no pictures) with an engraved stamp in the upper-right corner.
In 1977, however, a new "Historic Preservation Series" was inaugurated by U.S. postal officials featuring colorful stamps depicting famous historic buildings in America. Starting in 1989, U.S. colleges and universities were added to the schedule and have been released nearly every year since.
Next year, the U.S. Postal Service will commemorate the 200th anniversary of the founding of Ohio University with a 23-cent stamp in continuation of the "Historic Preservation Series."
Depicted on the upcoming card is a multicolor image of Cutler Hall which is on the university's Athens campus. Cutler Hall was opened in 1819, three years after its cornerstone was laid.
A first
Ohio University, founded in 1804, was the first institution of higher learning authorized by Congress in the Northwest Territory. The Territory was composed of land ceded to the United States after the Revolutionary War and included present-day Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio and Wisconsin.
Ohio University opened its doors with just three students, but today more than 27,000 attend classes on the university's six campuses.
At the bottom of the new Ohio card is the inscription "Ohio University 1804-2004 USA 23."
The first college to be honored in the Historic Preservation Series in 1989 was Georgetown. Some of the other institutions of higher learning appearing in the series have been Stanford, University of Texas, Notre Dame, University of Chicago, William & amp; Mary, Holy Cross, Princeton, Brandeis and Yale. The last one honored was Portland (Ore.) University in 2000.
There have been 54 cards issued in the series since the first in 1977 -- 24 national sights and 30 collegiate. The Ohio University card will be the 55th.
Famous national locations started with the Federal Court House in Galveston, Texas, in 1977. Since that date some other noted edifices honored have included Iolani Palace in Honolulu, Hearst Castle, Carnegie Hall, Fort McHenry and Mount Vernon.
More information on the Ohio University card will be made available to collectors before the date of issuance in 2004.