US Classic Stamps
General Issues of 1857-1861
1875 Reproductions of the 1857-1861 General Issues
Plate Proofs on Card (Sc. 40P4-47P4)
US classic stamps were transformed, in the middle of 1857, by a brand new innovation ... perforations! All the stamps of this series are perforated approximately 15 1/2.
Initially, remaining stocks of the
1851-1856 general issues were used for the new perforated sheets. However, those stamp designs were
mostly too large to fit in between the perforations, and the results
were unsatisfactory. During the course of the US classic stamps issue
of 1857-1861, new, modified plates were created, which looked better,
when the sheets were perforated. This resulted in new types of the
stamps of the former 1851-1856 issue.
And,
for the postal clerks and patrons of the late 1850's, there was the
question of what to do with the perforations around the stamps. Change can sometimes be confusing, rather than straightforward.
The fact that the perforations had been produced in order to facilitate
the easy separation of the sheets of stamps hadn't really sunk-in yet.
For some time after the issue of perforated stamps, postal clerks and
patrons continued to cut the sheets apart with scissors! Of course,
in many cases, this caused the destruction of the perforations and the mutilation of
the postage stamps themselves!
There are eight major "types", which
the Scott Catalog lists as Type I (#18), Type 1a (#19), Type Ic (#19b),
Type II (#20), Type III (#21), Type IIIa (#22), Type IV (#23), and Type V
(#24).
For drawings and descriptions of all the individual types of the 1 Cent issues of 1851 and 1857, please refer to the Scott US Specialized Catalog or to the Scott Standard Postage Stamp Catalog Volume I.
The perforated US classic stamps of the 1 Cent denomination were printed from 11 plates, three of the 1851-1856 imperforate 1 Cent plates, and eight new plates, specially designed for the perforated 1 Cent stamps. They are as follows:
- Plate 1L - Contains Types II and IV.
- Plate 2 - Contains Types II, III, and IIIa.
- Plate 4 - Contains Types Ia, Ic, II, III, and IIIa.
- Plates 5 through 10 - Contain Type V.
- Plate 11 - Contains Types II and IIIa.
- Plate 12 - Contains Types I, II, and IIIa.
Types
I (#18), II (#20), and V (#26) are shown in the image above. As you can
see in the image above, the size of the middle stamp, which is a Type
II from one of the 1851 plates, exceeds the perforated area. The stamp
on the left and the one on the right are from the new plates, designed
for the perforated stamps, and they fit into the perforated area much
better. With only a couple exceptions, the 1 Cent types are relatively
affordable, based on what a typical US classic stamps budget would allow
for.
On the 3 Cent stamps
there are two major "types" and one "sub-type", which the Scott Catalog
lists as Type I (#25), Type II (#26), and Type IIa (#26a). They are all
shown in the image above.
The Type I stamps were all printed from the 1851-1856 imperforate plates, and they have frame lines on all four sides. The 3 Cent stamps from the imperforate plates were much too big for the perforated issues. The example shown above at the left is actually extremely well centered! All four frame lines are evident at the edges of the perforations!
The Type II stamps were printed from new plates, re-designed for the perforated sheets. They have had the frame lines at the top and bottom removed, to allow more space for the stamps to fit vertically in the perforated area. The stamp was still a bit large to fit into the perforated area, but the results were a little better. Four margin copies are obtainable.
There are two sub-types. The Type II stamps (Plates 9 and 12 - 28) have the side frame lines running continuously the entire length of the sheet. On the Type IIa stamps (Plates 10 and 11), the side frame lines only run to the edge of the stamp design. In the image above, the middle stamp is Type IIa, and the stamp on the right is Type II.
Used
Type II stamps are still relatively inexpensive, and they can form a
great US classic stamps philatelic study for a very small investment.
The perforated US
classic stamps of the 5 Cent denomination exist in two major types.
Scott also lists some of the varying shades as individual catalog
numbers, as well.
The Scott listed stamps are: Type I - brick red (#27), red brown (#28), indian red (#28A), and brown (#29), and Type II - orange brown (#30) and brown (#30A).
The Type I stamps have projections at the top and bottom of the stamps. The Type II stamps have the projections at the top and bottom of the stamps partly cut away.
In the image above, the top two stamps are Type I (Scott #28 and #29). The bottom two stamps are Type II (Scott #30 and #30A).
The perforated US
classic stamps of the 10 Cent denomination exist in five major types.
They are listed in the Scott catalog as Type I (#31), Type II (#32),
Type III (#33), Type IV (#34), and Type V (#35). Types I through IV
were printed from the 1851 imperforate plate. Type V was printed from a
new plate.
For drawings and descriptions of all the individual types of the 10 Cent issues of 1851 and 1857, please refer to the Scott US Specialized Catalog or to the Scott Standard Postage Stamp Catalog Volume I.
Types II, III, IV, and V are shown in the image above, from top left to bottom right.
The perforated US
classic stamps of the 12 Cent denomination exist in two types. They were
printed from two plates, Plate 1, which was the original 1851
imperforate plate, and Plate 3, which was a new plate. The 12 Cent
stamp is shown above left (Sc. #36, #36B).
Stamps from Plate 1 have the outer frame lines complete. Stamps from Plate 3 have uneven or broken outer frame lines.
In
July of 1860, a new 24 Cent denomination was added to this perforated
US classic stamps series. This new stamp, depicting George Washington,
is shown at the upper right (Sc. #37).
In around August of
1860, a new 30 Cent denomination was added to this perforated US classic
stamps series. This new stamp, featuring an ornate design and
depicting Benjamin Franklin, is shown at the upper left (Sc. #38). It comes in a
number of attractive shades.
Near the end of
1860, a new 90 Cent denomination, featuring a portrait of General
George Washington, was added (Sc. #39). Due to the outbreak of the American Civil
War in April 1861, very few of these were ever used. Mint examples are
scarce, and "authenticated" used examples are very rare.
With
the outbreak of the American Civil War in 1861, the United States
Government demonetized all of the 1857-1861 postage stamp issues, in
order to prevent their being used by postmasters in the secessionist
Confederate States.
After the American Civil War, there were huge stocks of some of these issues available in Southern post offices, and many of them were bought up by philatelists. Many of the mint sheets, multiples, and single examples of these stamps available in the philatelic marketplace today, exist due to their being saved by postmasters in the Confederate States, during the American Civil War.
In 1875, to supply the needs of
collectors, the US Post Office contracted with the Continental Banknote
Co. to print reproductions of the issues of 1857 to 1860 (Sc. #40-47). New 100 subject
plates of the 1 Cent, 3 Cent, 10 Cent, and 12 Cent denominations were
manufactured, and the stamps from these new plates are different from
those of the original printings.
These
reproduction US classic stamps were perforated 12 and printed on white
paper without gum. They were NOT VALID for postage. With the exception
of the 1 Cent denomination, all of these reproductions are rare and are
seldom offered for sale.
A set of plate proofs (Sc. #40P4-47P4) of the 1875
reproductions is shown at the beginning of this page.
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 1857-1861
