About This Stamp
The Dr. Ephraim McDowell stamp features a portrait of Dr. Ephraim McDowell. He was born in the colony of Virginia in 1771. His father, Samuel McDowell, presided over the conventions that resulted in the drafting of the Kentucky constitution, which helped the territory gain independence from Virginia and become a state.
The stamp commemorates the 150th anniversary of the first successful ovarian operation in the United States, in which he removed a 20-pound ovarian tumor. It was performed by Dr. McDowell in Danville, Kentucky, in 1809.
First Day of Issue Ceremony
First Day of Issue Date: December 3, 1959
First Day of Issue Location: TBA