The statue of the Independent Man which stands atop the dome of the Rhode Island Statehouse in Providence was designed by George T. Brewster and cast by the Gorham Company of Providence. It was placed on top of the statehouse on December 18, 1899.

The golden statue stands 14 feet from the base to the tip of the spear and weighs 500 pounds. It was originally planned to erect a stature of Roger Williams, however no likeness of Williams could be found for a model. The statue is clad only in a lion skin with his right hand holding a spear and his left hand resting on an anchor; the symbol of Rhode island since 1647.

RIPEX is the Rhode Island Philatelic Exhibition; an annual show staged in various RI cities and towns each year. This cover was produced for RIPEX XXV, held beginning on June 3, 1990. There were several covers produced for the show, some with RIPEX cancellations and some with Bicentennial First Day cancels. Three RIPEX XXV covers are shown on these pages.

The Rhode Island Philatelic Society (RIPS) also maintains a website:
RIPS Website