Young George Washington stands with a hatchet beside his father, with a large cherry suspended above them against a backdrop of American flags and leaves. The scene illustrates the familiar legend of Washington confessing to cutting down his father's cherry tree. The caption gives the legendary confession: "Father, I cannot tell a lie, I did it with my Little Hatchet." The tale was popularized by Mason Locke Weems's early biography of Washington and became a widely repeated lesson in honesty.
Postcard Details
Message
No message detected
Addressed to
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Postcard record
Series
WASHINGTON BIRTHDAY SERIES NO.
Condition
Good
Notes
Gold embossed frame and flags; pink border; rounded corners with edge wear. No postmark, address, or message — back carries only printed headings. Undivided-back era card with embossed floral design, "Post Card" heading, "The Address to be written on this side," and "Place Postage Stamp Here / Domestic One Cent / Foreign Two Cents" stamp box; series imprint "Washington Birthday Series No. 1" at left edge. Front is a full-bleed embossed patriotic Washington/cherry-tree illustration with gold accents; light soiling and edge wear.
Cite this card
Young George Washington and the cherry tree legend, circa 1905, postcard, c. 1901. PostalPast Collection. https://postalpast.com/postcard/young-george-washington-and-the-cherry-tree-legend-circa-190. Accessed November 13, 2026.
