The America Ground

The America Ground, Hastings

Custom has it that the Stars and Stripes flag of the United States of America was raised in Hastings on what became known as the ‘America Ground’as an act of defiance against Hastings Council. A fellow philatelist and collector of Handstruck Postage Stamps of the Empire bought this front to my attention. Unfortunatly the back is missing and we are only presented with a Hastings Ship Letter strike, so despite the undoubted historical interest it provides, it is of little philatelic value.

Of undoubted historical interest is the handwritten addition referring to Hastings, or rather the America Ground, as the 24^th State of America and the date 4^th July 1822.

Actually in 1822, one star was added to the existing 23 stars of the Stars and Stripes but this was to represent Missouri, not, unfortunately the America Ground at Hastings.

A certain General Cosmo Grant was living at Oare Villas in 1832 but may not be the same individual to whom the letter is addressed.