US Classic Stamps
General Issues of 1847
The first adhesive US classic stamps, authorized by the Post Office Department for the prepayment of letter rates, went on sale at New York City post offices on July 1, 1847. They were sold the following day in Boston post offices, then they were distributed to all US post offices thereafter.
The two stamps were both engraved on light bluish gray
paper. Their printing was contracted out to Rawdon, Wright, Hatch, and
Edson, an engraving firm in New York City.
The 5 C. denomination stamp (Sc. #1) features a portrait of Benjamin
Franklin, patriot, statesman, and the first Postmaster General of the
United States. This stamp paid the rate on letters weighing less than 1
ounce and traveling less than 300 miles.
The
5 C. denomination can be collected in many shades, ranging from red orange to dark
brown. The issued color, in most of the catalogs, is red brown, which
is shown in the top image above. Three other examples of shades are
shown in the bottom image above.
The 10 C. denomination stamp (Sc. #2) features a portrait of George Washington,
hero of the American Revolution and the first President of the United
States. This stamp paid the 1 ounce rate for letters traveling greater
than 300 miles.
These stamps were a raving
success, with about 3,700,000 of the 5c denomination and about
865,000 of the 10c denomination having been sold.
Used condition examples of the first two United States stamps are plentiful, though they are a bit expensive. Mint condition examples of these two stamps are very rare and are seldom seen.
Reprints were made in 1875 by the Post Office
Department (Sc. #3-4), so that collectors could buy examples of early US stamps
that were no longer available.
As the
original plates of the 1847 issue had been destroyed, new plates had to
be made for the reprints. There are slight differences in the designs,
between the original 1847 printings and the 1875 reprints (see the specialized catalogs for details).
The image above shows the plate proofs (on card) of the 1847 reprints (Sc. #3P4-4P4). The plate proofs, on card or on India paper, are much less expensive that the original reprints on stamp paper. As with the original 1847 printings, the 1875 printings are imperforate.
eBay Auction and Store Links
USA
The following link(s) feature category-focused affiliated seller listings on various eBay sites worldwide. They may enable visitors to shop
for and to buy specific items for the
particular collecting subject they've just read about.
The
affiliated eBay seller auction lots provided by eBay,
Inc. are not the responsibility of the management of this
website. On high priced material, make sure the lots you are buying are properly authenticated.
Return to US Classic Stamps from
General Issues of 1847
