The two postage stamps have been in my philatelic collection for decades, part of my vast collection of stamps depicting women and women's lives. Harriet Tubman was the first African American woman to be honored on a U.S. postage stamp. The 13-cent stamp was the first in the Black Heritage series, initiated in 1978.
More recently, I purchased the Black History Speaks bookmark and is indeed a treasured bookmark in my collection. Black History Speaks is an element of Black History Month, an annual observance originating in the United States , where it is also known as African-American History Month. It has received official recognition from governments in the United States and Canada and more recently has been observed in Ireland and the United Kingdom. It began as a way of remembering important people and events in the history of the African diaspora.
Harriet Tubman, known as the “Moses of her people”, worked tirelessly to help others create a new life. Born a slave, she escaped to freedom in 1849. Harriet soon returned south to assist her family to freedom, thereby beginning a career as a “conductor” of the Underground Railroad. Known as “the Moses of her people,” she helped over 300 slaves escape to freedom to Canada through the network of routes and safe houses. During the Civil War she assisted the Union Army as a spy, scout and nurse. Her good works continued throughout her life, including joining the cause for Women's Suffrage. In her eighties Harriet contributed money to found a home to care for aging African Americans.
A photo of Harriet Tubman is shown on the far right of the image below.