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Stamps of the United States

began with the delivery of stampless letters
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 in the US.
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

  • St. Louis, MO
    5¢, 10¢, 1845; 20¢, 1846
    imperforate

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

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¢

  • Winfield Scott, 24¢

  • 30¢ mute, Alexander Hamilton

  • 30¢ unused

  • 90¢ used, Oliver Hazard Perry

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

  • Lincoln, 6¢ with location of secret marks

  • Edwin M. Stanton, 7¢

  • With location of secret marks

  • 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
Perforated 12. Printed by the American Bank Note Co.

Unused stampsEdit

 
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

Used stampsEdit

   
Columbus in Sight of Land
1¢ 		Landing of Columbus
2¢ 		Landing of Columbus
2¢
   
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
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¢

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¢ 		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¢
   
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

           
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¢
     

1902-03 IssueEdit

         
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
       
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

 
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¢

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¢

1908-09 IssueEdit

       
Benjamin Franklin
1¢ 		George Washington
2¢ 		George Washington
3¢ 		George Washington
15¢
 
Issues of 1908, 1 through 6-cents
 
Issues of 1908, 8 cents through 1 dollar

1908-10 Coil StampsEdit

  • George Washington
    1¢, 1908 series
    coil stamp

1909 Lincoln Memorial CommemorativesEdit

1910sEdit

  • Post Office Clerk
    1¢, 1913
    Parcel Post

  • Issue of 1912

  • George Washington
    2¢, 1914

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

Parcel Post Stamps 1912-13Edit

 

Further Washington-Franklin IssuesEdit

 
1912-14 series Washington 7c in black and Franklin with Oak leaves, 8c to 11c
 
1912-14 series, Franklin with Oak leaves, 12c to 50c
 
Franklin 1-Dollar
Issued 1912
 
Franklin 11-cent
Issued 1915
 
5-cent color error, 1916-17


 
1st / only Franklin 13c
issue of 1919
 
    The 'Big Bens'
Issue of 1918
 
Franklin 2-dollar reprint
issue of 1920

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 Tercentenary 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

1930sEdit

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

Presidential Issues of 1938Edit

 

1940sEdit

  • 10¢, 1941 Airmail

  • 13¢, 1944, Special Delivery

  • Four Chaplains, 3¢, 1948 (stamp)

  • Four Chaplains, 3¢, 1948 (envelope)

Famous Americans Series, 1940Edit

 

Overrun Countries Series, 1943-44Edit

 

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

American Bicentennial Issue: Flag Series, 1976Edit

 

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

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 in the US.
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.
La .lojban.: merko jecta xe pelji ba 1/1/1978 cu kapirait USPS gi'e na zvati lo gubni lacri i co'u lo fanmo be 1977 lo tasmi cu na zvati kapirait

See alsoEdit

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