One-cent. — Profile bust, after Ceracchi, of Benjamin Franklin, looking to the left, on an ellipse, with a dark background and narrow white border, immediately above which, set in a panel conforming to the elliptical curve, are the words “United States postage” in white capitals, and below which, in slightly larger and shaded letters, arranged in a waved line running nearly the whole width of the stamp, are the words “One cent.” Continue reading “Ordinary Postage Stamps – Issue of 1890”
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Postage-Due Stamps – Issue of 1879
These stamps are alike except as to the denominations, which are expressed by Arabic numerals in the middle upon an elliptic ground of delicate lathework. Continue reading “Postage-Due Stamps – Issue of 1879”
Newspaper and Periodical Stamps – January 7, 1875
1-, 2-, 3-, 4-, 6-, 8-, 9-, and 10-cent— Allegorical figure of Freedom, looking to the right, and modeled after Crawford’s statue upon the dome of the Capitol. Continue reading “Newspaper and Periodical Stamps – January 7, 1875”
Official US postage stamps 1873-1884
The franking privilege having been abolished, to take effect on the 1st day of July 1873, the Postmaster General, as required by law, provided a series of stamps of special design for each of the executive departments of the Government for the prepay merit of postage on an official matter. Continue reading “Official US postage stamps 1873-1884”
United States postage stamps issue 1870 (April 9 to 30)
One-cent — a lined rectangular ground is left uncovered near the edges of the stamp on all sides. Inside this, a more distinctly outlined border of scrollwork and conventionally foliated ornaments fills the space to the medallion, which contains a profile bust of Franklin. Continue reading “United States postage stamps issue 1870 (April 9 to 30)”
Series of 1869 (march 1, 1869 – april 9, 1970)
The sizes of these stamps vary from the 13/16 of an inch circle on the 1-cent to 13/16 by 27/32 of an inch in dimension.
The designs were furnished by the National Bank Note Co. of New York with their bid, upon which contract was entered into on the 12th of December, 1868. Continue reading “Series of 1869 (march 1, 1869 – april 9, 1970)”
Series of 1861 (august 17, 1861 to february 17, 1869)
One-cent — profile head of Franklin, looking to the right, in an ellipse as large as could be placed upon the stamp, viz 1 by 3/4 inch. The entire ground within the enclosure is formed of lathe work. The outer %6 of an inch of this space is more open. Continue reading “Series of 1861 (august 17, 1861 to february 17, 1869)”
US series of 1851
These stamps are obsolete and worthless for postage. A reasonable time after hostilities began in 1861 was given for the exchange of stamps in the hands of the public and for the replacement of post office stocks. Continue reading “US series of 1851”
US postage stamps series of 1847
Five-cent — portrait of Franklin reproduced from a drawing by James B. Longacre, three-quarters face looking left, white neckerchief and fur collar to coat, the ground enclosure surrounded by a faintly engraved wreath of leaves, on which are the letters “U” and “S” placed in the left and right upper corners, respectively, and in each of the two lower corners a large figure “5.” Continue reading “US postage stamps series of 1847”
First stamp: the Penny Black
First adhesive postage stamp of the world was the Penny Black stamp. It was published in the United Kingdom. The first stamp people could buy on 6 May 1840, but it was presented offstage at 5 days before ( 1 May 1840). It contains portrait of Queen Victoria in profile and was in circulation until February 1841. Continue reading “First stamp: the Penny Black”