John and William Bartram
1999 marks the 300th anniversary of the birth of American botanist John Bartram (1699-1777), who established the oldest existing botanical garden in America. With the help of his son William, John Bartram introduced approximately 200 native American plants and propagated innumerable native and exotic plants. His travel journals and letters are an important record of the natural environment of his time. William Bartram (1739-1823) began traveling with his father in the 1750s and later published his own journals. A talented artist, William produced many drawings and watercolors of plants and animals. He wrote Travels through North and South Carolina, Georgia, East and West Florida, the Cherokee Country, the Extensive Territories of the Muscogules, or Creek Confederacy and the Country of the Choctaws. Published in 1791, the book is commonly called Bartram’s Travels. Historic Bartram’s Garden in Philadelphia is a public museum, park and garden. The stamp art features the Franklinia alatamaha.