Officials from the U.S. Post Office and from the African Methodist Episcopal (A.M.E.) Church dedicated and unveiled the 39th stamp in the Black Heritage Stamp Series honoring preacher, activist and civic leader Richard Allen, founder of the A.M.E. Church, on Friday.
In ceremonies at Quinn Chapel A.M.E. Church on Lafayette Street in Jefferson City, the Rev. Darlene Singe Smith of the St. Louis/Columbia District of the A.M.E. Church said, "Thank God for this man and thank God for this recognition of our founder."
This stamp coincides with the 200th anniversary of Allen's founding of the church.
"Richard Allen was a man of boundless stature, courage and determination," said Jefferson City Postmaster Jason Hirschvogel. "The fact the man had to pay his master $2,000 to be freed and had to work odd jobs to get that money is so unreal."
After making a name for himself as a traveling minister throughout the Mid-Atlantic, Allen was asked to preach to his fellow African Americans at a Methodist church in Philadelphia. Allen purchased an old blacksmith's shop and moved it to land he owned where he dedicated it in 1794. In 1816, Allen summoned other black Methodist leaders to found the A.M.E. church.
The A.M.E. denomination now boasts more than 2.5 million members.
He also rose to prominence as a civic leader, rallying black Philadelphians to defend the city in the War of 1812.
The stamp art is a portrait of Allen extracted from an 1876 print titled "Bishops of the A.M.E. Church." The print features Allen in the center surrounded by 10 other bishops. It is from the collection of the Library Company of Philadelphia.
The commemorative postmark for the Richard Allen stamp dedication is available for 30 days at the Jefferson City Post Office.
Customers may purchase new stamps at local post offices, at www.usps.com/shop or by calling 800-STAMP-24.
To receive the postmark, affix the stamps to envelopes and place them inside another envelope addressed to:
Richard Allen Stamp
Postmaster
131 West High Street
Jefferson City, MO 65101-9988
After applying the commemorative postmark, the Postal Service will return the envelopes through the mail. There is no charge for postmarks up to a quantity of 50. For more than 50, customers are charged 5 cents each. All orders must be postmarked by March 27.