On April 26, 1935, a violet 3-cent stamp was issued to commemorate the 300th anniversary of the founding of the colony of Connecticut under a charter granted by Charles II. The historic Charter Oak was selected as the subject for the design. As the tree was considered sacred by the Indians of the area, the colonists honored the Indians' wishes that the tree be preserved. In 1667 King James II demanded the surrender of the charter granted by Charles II. At the moment that the crown's representative was about to seize the charter at the Assembly, the lights were extinguished, and the charter was spirited away to be hidden in a hollow within the Charter Oak. The charter remained hidden until the revolution in England, but continued in force as it had not been surrendered.
Gordon T. Trotter
