John Smith and His Coat of Arms

Front:
BEGO TO AMERICAN COLORTY COPYRIGHT 1907 BY JAMESTOWN A. & V. CO. JOHN SMITH AND HIS COAT-OF-ARMS.

Back:
4091 COPYRIGHT 1008 JAMESTOWN EX.CO OFFICIAL SEAL 1907 1607-JAMESTOWN EXPOSITION-1907 OFFICIAL SOUVENIR FOR COMMUNICATION THIS SPACE MAY BE USED No. 14. JOHN SMITH AND HIS COAT OF ARMS. This famous chevalier who became the soul of the enterprise, and the founder of Virginia, was born in Willoughby, England, in January 1579; his family were of the Lancashire gentry but he was left a poor orphan, and before he had grown to manhood wandered away like a knight errant and began the strenuous life of adventure that has filled so many pages of history. Space permits of but brief mention of his many and great services to the first settlement in this country, at Jamestown in 1607. He was its life and salvation, and his power over the Indians is perhaps best expressed by the words of King Powhatan, who said: "My warriors cannot sleep; they must ever be watching, and if a twig breaks they cry 'Here comes Captain Smith'." In a war against the Turks Captain Smith killed and took the heads of three Turkish champions, whom he met in single combat. For this he was knighted and permitted to put the heads on his coat of arms. He died in 1632; his tomb bears a poetic inscription beginning, "Here lies one conquered that hath conquered kings," and ending with the prayer, "that with Angels he might have his recompense." (Ser cards No. 3, 4, 5 and 6.) M. PUBLISHED BY THE CONCESSIONAIRE, THE JAMESTOWN AMUSEMENT & VENDING CO., INC., NORFOLK VA. UNITED STATES, CUBA,CANADA AND MEXICO FOREIGN TWO CENTS.