Stamps of the United States

English: Note that US stamp designs since 1978 are copyrighted by the United States Postal Service, and not in the public domain. Up to the end of 1977 the designs are all PD.
Deutsch: Briefmarken aus den USA nach 1978 der United States Postal Service sind urheberrechtlich geschützt und dürfen hier nicht abgebildet werden!
Español: Tome en cuenta que los diseños de timbres/sellos de correo de los Estados Unidos apartir de 1978 están protegidos por derechos de autor, y no en el dominio público. Aquellos diseños de timbres/sellos de correo apartir del fin de 1977 y antes están en el dominio público.

1840sEdit

Provisional stampsEdit

1847 IssueEdit

Imperforate. Printed by Rawdon, Wright, Hatch & Edson

This was the first series of federally issued US postage stamps. They were issued under an act of congress on March 3, 1847 and first sold in New York City on July 1, 1847. (Ref. National Postal Museum)

1850sEdit

1851-57 IssueEdit

Imperforate. Printed by Toppan, Carpenter, Chasilear & Co.

  • Benjamin Franklin
    1¢, Type II, 1851

  • Benjamin Franklin
    1¢, 1 Type II, 2 Type IVs, 1851

  • Benjamin Franklin
    1¢

  • George Washington
    3¢, 1851, possibly from a cracked plate

  • George Washington
    3¢, 1851, detail of previous

  • George Washington
    3¢, 1851

  • Thomas Jefferson
    5¢, 1856

  • George Washington
    10¢, Type III, 1855

  • George Washington
    10¢, 1855

  • George Washington
    12¢, 1851

1857-61 IssueEdit

Perforated 15. Printed by Toppan, Carpenter & Co.

  • George Washington
    3¢

  • George Washington
    3¢

  • George Washington
    3¢, 1861

1860sEdit

1861-66 IssueEdit

Perforated 12. Printed by the National Bank Note Co.

1867 IssueEdit

Perforated 12 and grilled. Printed by the National Bank Note Co.

  • George Washington, 3¢

  • George Washington, 3¢
    with "F-grill"

1869 IssueEdit

Perforated 12 and grilled. Printed by the National Bank Note Co.

1c Benjamin Franklin
1869 issue
2c Post rider
1869 issue
3c Locomotive
1869 issue


6c George Washington
1869 issue
10c Shield and eagle
1869 issue
12c Steam Ship
S.S. “Adriatic"
1869 issue


15c Landing of Columbus
Type I, 1869 issue
24c Declaration of Independence
1869 issue
30c Shield, eagle and flag
1869 issue
90c Abraham Lincoln
1869 issue


  • Locomotive, 3¢

  • 3¢ with "G-grill"

  • Locomotive, 3¢

  • Landing of Columbus, 15¢

1870sEdit

1870-71 IssueEdit

Perforated 12. Printed by the National Bank Note Co.

  • Benjamin Franklin, 1¢

  • Andrew Jackson, 2¢
    (brown)

  • Andrew Jackson, 2¢
    (red)

  • George Washington, 3¢

  • George Washington, 3¢

  • Washington, 3¢ detail

  • Stanton, 7¢ (detail)

  • Thomas Jefferson, 10¢

1873 IssueEdit

Perforated 12. Printed by the Continental Bank Note Co.

  • George Washington, 3¢

  • George Washington, 3¢
    detail showing secret marks

  • George Washington
    3¢, 1873

  • Washington, 3¢
    detail showing secret marks

  • Edwin M. Stanton, 7¢

  • Edwin M. Stanton, 7¢
    detail showing secret marks

  • George Washington, 3¢
    U.S. War Dept. stamp

1879 IssueEdit

Perforated 12. Printed by the American Bank Note Co. on soft porous paper.

1880sEdit

1881-82 IssueEdit

Perforated 12. Printed by the American Bank Note Co.

    1883 IssueEdit

    Perforated 12. Printed by the American Bank Note Co.

    • George Washington, 2¢

    1887 IssueEdit

    Perforated 12. Printed by the American Bank Note Co.

    • Benjamin Franklin, 1¢

    • George Washington, 2¢


    1890sEdit

    1890-93 IssueEdit

    Perforated 12. Printed by the American Bank Note Co.

    1893 Columbian Exposition CommemorativesEdit

    World Columbian Exposition, Chicago, Illinois

    1c Columbus in sight of land
    1893 issue
    2c Landing of Columus
    1893 issue
    3c Santa Maria
    1893 issue


    4c Fleet of Columbus
    1893 issue
    5c Columbus soliciting aid from Queen Isabella
    1893 issue
    6c Columbus welcomed at Barcelona
    1893 issue
    8c Columbus restored to favor
    1893 issue
    10c Columbus presenting natives
    1893 issue
    15c Columbus announcing his discovery
    1893 issue
    30c Columbus as La Rabida
    1893 issue
    50c Recall of Columbus
    1893 issue
    $1Queen Isabella pledging her jewels
    1893 issue
    $2 Columbus in chains
    1893 issue
    $3 Columbus describing his third voyage
    1893 issue
    $4 Queen Isabella and Columbus
    1893 issue
    $5 Columbus
    1893 issue


    Columbus in Sight of Land, 1¢ Landing of Columbus, 2¢ Landing of Columbus, 2¢
    Columbus in Sight of Land
    1¢    		 Landing of Columbus
    2¢    		 Landing of Columbus
    2¢
    Columbus Presenting Natives, 10¢ Columbus Presenting Natives, 10¢
    Columbus Presenting Natives
    10¢    		 Columbus Presenting Natives
    10¢

    1894 IssueEdit

    Perforated 12. Printed by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing

    1895 IssueEdit

    Perforated 12 with double-line "USPS" watermarks. Printed by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing.

    Benjamin Franklin, 1¢, blue George Washington, 2¢ William T. Sherman, 8¢
    Benjamin Franklin
    1¢, blue    		 George Washington
    2¢    		 William T. Sherman
    5¢

    1898 IssueEdit

    Perforated 12 with double-line watermark. Printed by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing

    Benjamin Franklin, 1¢, green Abraham Lincoln, 4¢ Ulysses S. Grant, 5¢
    Benjamin Franklin
    1¢, green    		 Abraham Lincoln
    4¢    		 Ulysses S. Grant
    5¢

    1898 Trans-Mississippi Exposition CommemorativesEdit

    1c Marquette on the Mississippi
    1898 issue
    2c Farming in the west
    1898 issue
    4c Indian hunting buffalo
    1898 issue
    5c Fremont on Rocky Mountains
    1898 issue
    8c Troops guarding wagon train
    1898 issue
    10c Puerto Rico election
    1898 issue
    50c Western mining prospector
    1898 issue
    $1 Western cattle in storm
    1898 issue
    $2 Mississippi River bridge
    1898 issue
    Father Jacques Marquette on the Mississippi, 1¢ Marquette on the Mississippi, 1¢ Farming in the West, 2¢
    Father Jacques Marquette
    on the Mississippi, 1¢    		 Father Jacques Marquette
    on the Mississippi, 1¢    		 Farming in the West, 2¢
    Fremont on the Rocky Mountains, 5¢ Troops Guarding Train, 8¢ Hardships of Emigration, 10¢
    Fremont on the
    Rocky Mountains, 5¢    		 Troops Guarding Train, 8¢ Hardships of Emigration, 10¢
    Western Cattle in Storm, $1.00, "Black Bull" Flag cancellation mark
    Western Cattle in Storm, $1.00
    "Black Bull"    		 Flag cancellation mark on 2¢ stamp

    1898 Revenue stampsEdit

    • ½¢ revenue stamp

    • $1.00 revenue stamp

    1900s-oughtsEdit

    1901 EnvelopeEdit

    • 1¢, 1901
      Savannah-Mulhouse

    1901 Pan-American Exposition CommemorativesEdit

    Fast Lake Navigation, 1¢ Fast Express, 2¢ Automobile, 4¢ Bridge at Niagara Falls, 8¢ Canal Locks at Sault de Ste Marie, 8¢ Fast Ocean Navigation, 10¢
    294. Fast Lake Navigation
    1¢ (postcard rate)    		 295. Fast Express
    2¢ (domestic letter rate)    		 296. Automobile
    4¢    		 297. Bridge at Niagara Falls
    5¢ (foreign rate)    		 298. Canal Locks at
    Sault de Ste Marie
    8¢ (registry fee)    		 299. Fast Ocean Navigation
    10¢
    Fast Lake Navigation, 1¢ Fast Express, 2¢

    1902-03 IssueEdit

    Benjamin Franklin, 1¢ George Washington, 2¢ Andrew Jackson, 3¢ Ulysses S. Grant, 4¢ Abraham Lincoln, 5¢
    300 — 1¢
    Benjamin Franklin
    02/1903    		 301 — 2¢
    George Washington
    01/1903    		 302 — 3¢
    Andrew Jackson
    02/1903    		 303 — 4¢
    Ulysses S. Grant
    02/1903    		 304 — 5¢
    Abraham Lincoln
    01/1903
    Daniel Webster, 10¢ William Henry Harrison, 13¢ Henry Clay, 15¢ David Glasgow Farragut, $1.00, 1903
    307 — 10¢
    Daniel Webster
    02/1903    		 308 — 13¢
    William Henry Harrison
    11/1902    		 309 — 15¢
    Henry Clay
    05/1903    		 311 — $1.00
    David Glasgow Farragut
    11/1903

    1903 IssueEdit

    George Washington, 2¢
    319.
    George Washington
    2¢
    11/1903

    1904 Louisiana Purchase Exposition CommemorativesEdit

    1c Robert Livingston
    1903 issue
    2c Thomas Jefferson
    1903 issue
    3c James Monroe
    1903 issue
    5c William McKinley
    1903 issue
    10c Map of Louisiana Purchase
    1903 issue
    Thomas Jefferson, 2¢
    Thomas Jefferson, 2¢

    1907 Jamestown Exposition CommemorativesEdit

    1c John Smith
    1907 issue
    2c Jamestown founding
    1907 issue
    5c Pocahontas
    1907 issue
    Captain John Smith, 1¢ Pocahontas detail Captain John Smith, 1¢ Powhatan detail Founding of Jamestown, 2¢
    Captain John Smith, 1¢ Pocahontas
    detail    		 Captain John Smith, 1¢ Powhatan
    detail    		 Founding of Jamestown, 2¢

    1908-09 IssueEdit

    Benjamin Franklin, 1¢ George Washington, 2¢ George Washington, 2¢ George Washington, 15¢
    Benjamin Franklin
    1¢    		 George Washington
    2¢    		 George Washington
    3¢    		 George Washington
    15¢

    1908-10 Coil StampsEdit

    • George Washington
      1¢, 1908 series
      coil stamp

    1909 Lincoln Memorial CommemorativesEdit

    • US stamp 1909 2c Lincoln Memorial.jpg

    1910sEdit

    • Post Office Clerk
      1¢, 1913
      Parcel Post

    • George Washington
      2¢, 1914

    • George Washington
      3¢, 1917
      perf-10 line (2)

    • Curtiss Jenny
      24¢, 1918

    • Curtiss Jenny
      24¢, 1918
      "Fast Plane"

    • Comparison of normal and "Fast Plane" varieties

    1913-1915 Panama-Pacific ExpositionEdit

    • 1-cent Explorer Balboa

    • 2-cent Pedro Miguel Locks, Panama Canal

    • 5-cent "Golden Gate", San Francisco Bay

    • 10-cent Spanish expedition to San Francisco Bay

    1920sEdit

    Pilgrim Tercentary Issue of 1920Edit

    1¢ “Mayflower"
    1920 issue
    2¢ Landing of the Pilgrims
    1920 issue
    5¢ Signing of the Compact
    1920 issue

    Huguenot-Walloon tercentenary Issue of 1924Edit

    1c Ship “Nieu Nederland"
    1924 issue
    2c Walloons landing
    at Fort Orange (Albany)
    1924 issue
    5c Jan Ribault Monument
    at Duval County FL
    1924 issue

    Lexington-Concord Issue of 1925Edit

    1c Washington at Cambridge
    1924 issue
    2c “Birth of Liberty”
    by Henry Sandman
    1924 issue
    5c “The Minute Man”
    by Daniel Chester French
    1924 issue

    Norse-American Issue of 1925Edit

    2c Sloop “Restaurationen"
    1925 issue
    5c Viking ship
    1925 issue

    • Norse-American
      5¢, 1925

    • Norse-American
      5¢, detail

    Aeronautics Conference Issue of 1928Edit

    2¢ Wright flyer
    1928 issue
    5¢ Monoplane
    1928 issue

    • 15¢, 1928
      Special Handling

    • James Garfield
      6¢, 1929
      cancelled "Kans."

    1930sEdit

    • 2¢, 1930
      revenue stamp

    • Graf Zeppelin
      65¢, 1930

    • Mount Vernon
      1¢, 1936

    • 6¢, 1936
      Souvenir Sheet of 4

    • George Washington
      2¢, 1938, precancelled

    • Martin Van Buren
      8¢, 1939

    National Parks Issue of 1934Edit

    1c El Capitan
    Yosemite, California
    1934 issue
    2c Grand Canyon
    Arizona
    1934 issue
    3c Mount Ranier and
    Mirror Lake, Washington
    1934 issue
    4c Cliff Palace
    Mesa Verde Park, Colorado
    1934 issue
    5c Old Faithful
    Yellowstone, Wyoming
    1934 issue
    6c Crater Lake
    Oregon
    1934 issue
    7c Great Head
    Acadia Park, Maine
    1934 issue
    8c Great White Throne
    Zion Park, Utah
    1934 issue
    9c Mt. Rockwell and Two Medicine Lake
    Glacier National Park, Montana
    1934 issue
    10c Great Smokey Mountains
    North Carolina
    1934 issue

    Army Issue of 1936-1937Edit

    1c G. Washington, N. Greene
    Mount Vernon
    1936-7 issue
    2c A. Jackson, W. Scott
    The Hermitage
    1936-7 issue
    3c Grant, Sherman, Sheridan
    1936-7 issue
    4c R.E. Lee and T.J. Jackson
    Stratford Hall
    1936-7 issue
    5c U.S. Military Academy
    1936-7 issue


    Navy Issue of 1936-1937Edit

    1c J.P. Jones and J. Barry
    1936-7 issue
    2c S. Decatur and T. MacDonough
    1936-7 issue
    3c D. G. Farragut and D. D. Porter
    1936-7 issue
    4c Sampson, Dewey and Schley
    1936-7 issue
    5c U.S. Naval Academy
    1936-7 issue

    Territorial Issues of 1937Edit

    3c Kamehameha I, Honolulu
    Hawaii Territory
    1937 issue
    3c Mount McKinley
    Alaska Territory
    1937 issue
    3c La Fortaleza,
    San Juan, Puerto Rico
    1937 issue
    3c Charlotte Amalie Harbor,
    St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands
    1937 issue

    1940sEdit

    • 10¢, 1941 Airmail

    • 13¢, 1944, Special Delivery

    • Four Chaplains, 3¢, 1948 (stamp)

    • Four Chaplains, 3¢, 1948 (envelope)

    • Overrun countries stamps

    • United States postage stamp honoring Louisa May Alcott (1940)

    -united states postage 3$ 1846-1946

    1950sEdit

    National capital sesquicentennialEdit

    3c Statue of Freedom
    Washington DC
    1950 issue
    3c The White House
    Washington DC
    1950 issue
    3c U.S. Supreme Court Building
    Washington DC
    1950 issue
    3c U.S. Capitol Building
    Washington DC
    1950 issue

    Wildlife conservation issues of 1956-7Edit

    3¢ Wild Turkey
    1956 issue
    3¢ Longpronged antelope
    1956 issue
    3¢ King salmon
    1956 issue
    3¢ Whooping crane
    1957 issue

    • Newspaper Boys, 3¢, 1952 (4 stamps)

    • Thomas Jefferson, 2¢, coil (2 stamps)

    • Liberty, 3¢ , 1954

    • 15¢, 1955, Certified Mail

    • 3¢, 1956, Friendship - Key to World Peace.

    • US Flag, 4¢, 1957

    • United States postage stamp honoring Simon Bolivar (1958)

    1960sEdit

    • Camp Fire Girls, 4¢, 1960

    • Project Mercury, 4¢, 1962

    • Dag Hammarskjold, 4¢, 1962, inverted yellow

    • Robert H. Goddard, 1964

    • John F. Kennedy, 5¢, 1964

    • 100 years Salvation Army, 5¢, 1965

    • Mary Cassatt, 5¢, 1966 (Mr. Zip in margin)

    • Washington, 5¢, 1966

    • Washington, 5¢, 1967 (updated drawing)

    • National Grange, 5¢, 1967

    • Oliver Wendell Holmes, 15¢, 1968

    • First Man on the Moon, 10¢, 1969, Air Mail

    • United States postage stamp honoring Amelia Earhart (1963)

    • US stamp honoring Johnny Appleseed

    • US stamp honoring Montgomery Blair

    1970sEdit

    US local stampsEdit

    • 1845, Boyd's City Express 2¢ #20L4 (black on green)

    • 1859, Brady & Co., New York, #22L1, Forgery D

    • 1857, Clark & Co., New York, #46L1, Forgery C

    • 1866, Hussey's Special Message Post. 10¢, #87LE2 (gold on green)

    • 1857, Price's City Express - Post 2c, #119L1 (black on red)

    • 1857, Price's City Express - Post 2c, #119L2 (black on green)

    • 1858, Price's City Express - Post 2c, #119L3 (black on green)

    • 1851, Priest's Despatch, Paid (2¢) #121L3 (black on yellow) prob. forgery

    • 1851, Priest's Despatch, Paid (2¢) #121L4 (black on rose) prob. forgery

    • 1851, Priest's Despatch, Paid (2¢) #121L5 (black on blue) prob. forgery

    • 1851, Priest's Despatch, Paid (2¢) #121L5 (black on blue) Forgery A

    • Pony Express 25¢,
      used at Virginia City

    Other US stamp-related imagesEdit

    • Première édition du catalogue Scott / 1st edition cover of the Scott catalog

    Copyright-Note up to 1978Edit

    English: Note that US stamps issued after 1 January 1978 are copyright United States Postal Service, and not in the public domain. Up to the end of 1977 the designs are all PD.
    Deutsch: Briefmarken aus den USA nach 1 Januar 1978 der United States Postal Service sind urheberrechtlich geschützt und dürfen hier nicht abgebildet werden!
    Español: Tome en cuenta que los diseños de timbres/sellos de correo de los Estados Unidos apartir de 1978 están protegidos por derechos de autor, y no en el dominio público. Aquellos diseños de timbres/sellos de correo apartir del fin de 1977 y antes están en el dominio público.

    See alsoEdit

    Last modified on 20 April 2014, at 07:57