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Since it's not President's Day

No matter what the mattress sale ad reads, it's NOT President's Day.   Since 1885, it has officially been called 'Washington's Birthday', a national federal holiday in honor of the Father of Our Country.  Originally it was celebrated on Washington's true birthday, February 22,  until 1968 when some lawmakers wanted to celebrate generalized presidential achievement, particularly those of Abraham Lincoln.  The Uniform Monday Holiday Act was passed, which created three day weekends along with the sales-a-thons we are bombarded with by retailers.  Because many jurisdictions celebrated Lincoln's birthday on February 12,  which is so close to Washington's,  a general perception grew that the birthday of the Great Emancipator was an inclusion to the Act, though it was not.   Today is "Washington's Birthday".  Today is the day to celebrate all things Washington.

Since my blog is 90% about a particular subject, you can imagine what I'm going to share with you, can't you? Of course you can. 

How about beginning with some transferware plates that depict images of Mount Vernon, Washington's home?
This pattern is simply titled Mount Vernon and was produced by Johnson Brothers in a variety of colors.

red/pink transferware dinner plate (for sale HERE)


same plate as above but in brown polychrome

 Brown polychrome salad plate depicting the main entrance to the estate on the West front.

Garden house gazebo

Mount Vernon dish set in blue


s an unparalleled model which will be forever relevant. 
George Washington's bravery, leadership, and impeccable character encourages a boldness of spirit that the world seldom sees, but should always remember.  His powerful affirmation of faith and patriotic duty are reflected in this ever famous image of The Prayer at Valley Forge, engraved by John C McRae in 1866, based on a painting by Henry Brueckner.  

If we desire to avoid insult, we must be able to repel it; if we desire to secure peace, one of the most powerful instruments of our rising prosperity, it must be known, that we are at all times ready for War.
~George Washington~






Here are more of my posts with Patriotic themes and transferware:

HERE and HERE

Kindest regards, Nancy



Visit my Etsy shop below where you'll find over 1000 transferware items for sale!

Comments

  1. Absolutely gorgeous! I just read that tourism at Mt. Vernon is at its highest level since 1976! Love all your Washington/Mt. Vernon transferware!

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  2. Oh my what a beautiful post. I really enjoy reading anything about our Nations beginings. I The dises are marvelous, such a beautiful pattern. I collect brown transferware and adore it. Happy Washingtons Birthday.
    An

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  3. Great post! What wonderful Washington and Mt. Vernon transferware! Love Mt. Vernon!

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  4. I grew up in Washington, D.C. and I remember celebrating both Washington's Day as well as Lincoln's Day in February. It all changed when we began celebrating Martin Luther King Day in March. After all, there are just so many days that schools can close.

    I love your blues!


    Happy Blue Monday, Nancy. Be sure to check out my book giveaway.

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  5. I was hoping your post was going that way, Nancy! I love when you give us background and information like this that incorporates the transferware. That blue and white set is stunning.

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  6. Oh so pretty and all those great pieces! Love your historic and patriotic transferware!
    Have a great Washington's B-Day!!
    Miss Bloomers

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  7. Those are beautiful!

    Please come by when you get a chance and see my BLUE, have a great week.

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  8. I remember looking forward to celebrating Lincoln's and Washington's birthdays in school when I was a child. (On two *separate* days in February!) These dishes, and the ones in the two posts you linked, are beautiful, and the table settings you created for them are so pretty and inviting. I think it's lovely to take the time to celebrate important people and dates, and using pretty items that reflect a particular event or person only makes it more special.

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  9. I loved the blue and white set Nancy. I am thinking I had a purple Mt Vernon plate that broke...I save all my broken transferware for some big project that I have yet to execute. I will look in the box and see if it is indeed a Mt Vernon plate.

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  10. I just knew you were going to show us Mount Vernon plates as soon as I saw your post title. Love all of these, Nancy.

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  11. Hi Nancy, We visited Mount Vernon last Fall and it was beautiful. Love the transferware.
    Hugs, Sherry

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  12. Nancy, I visited this post yesterday, then popped over to your store. Got lost in dreaming! So here I am again to say how much I enjoyed this post. Thanks for sharing all this information.
    I recently saw the sweetest demi cup and saucer with a White House Christmas scene. Have you seen these? Would love to find one of these. ~ Sarah

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  13. Thank you for actually caring about respecting our presidents. The "Prayer at Valley Forge" Plate is excellent.

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