48-star flag, 1957

This is a survey of the postage stamps and postal history of the United States. ImageMetadata File history File links Stamp_US_1957_4c_flag. ... ImageMetadata File history File links Stamp_US_1957_4c_flag. ...

Early postal history

(add pre-stamp postal history here)

Provisionals

The introduction of postage stamps in Great Britain in 1840 was received with great interest around the world, and in the United States. On March 3, 1845, Congress reduced and regularized postal rates, with a uniform rate of five cents for distances under 300 miles (500 km). However, Congress did not authorize the production of stamps, so postmasters made provisional issues. These included both prepaid envelopes and stamps, mostly of crude design, the New York Postmaster's Provisional being the only one of quality comparable to later stamps. The provisionals of Baltimore were notable for the reproduced signature of the city's postmaster—James Buchanan, later President of the United States. All of the provisionals are rare, and several command prices above US$100,000. These cities issued provisionals in 1845 and 1846: This 1974 stamp from Japan depicts a Class 8620 steam locomotive. ... 1840 is a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar). ... March 3 is the 62nd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (63rd in leap years). ... 1845 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... If you are looking for different meanings of this word, see Postmaster (disambiguation) A postmaster is a term used in post offices to denote the head or master of the office. ... Baltimore skyline at dusk Motto: The Greatest City in America (formerly The City That Reads; BELIEVE is not the official motto but rather a specific campaign) Nickname: Charm City Mob Town B-more Location in Maryland Founded 30 July 1729 Incorporated 1797 County Independent city Borough {{{borough}}} Parrish {{{parrish}}} Mayor... James Buchanan (April 23, 1791 – June 1, 1868) was the 15th president of the United States (1857–1861). ... The President of the United States (fully, President of the United States of America; unofficially abbreviated POTUS) is the American head of state and the chief executive of the federal government. ... 1846 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ...

• Alexandria, Virginia ("ALEXANDRIA POST OFFICE" in circle)
• Annapolis, Maryland (eagle in circle)
• Baltimore, Maryland (James Buchanan signature)
• Boscawen, New Hampshire ("PAID / 5 / CENTS")
• Brattleboro, Vermont (shaded box with postmaster initials inside)
• Lockport, New York ("LOCKPORT N.Y." in oval)
• Millbury, Massachusetts (woodcut of George Washington)
• New Haven, Connecticut ("POST OFFICE" in box, P.M. signature)
• New York, New York ("POST OFFICE" over Washington portrait)
• Providence, Rhode Island ("POST OFFICE / PROV. R.I." in shaded box)
• St. Louis, Missouri St. Louis Bears (Missouri coat of arms)

Old Town Alexandria, viewed from the west, as seen from the observation deck of the George Washington Masonic National Memorial. ... Motto: Nickname: Americas Sailing Capital , Naptown Founded Incorporated 1649 1708  County Anne Arundel County Borough {{{borough}}} Parrish {{{parrish}}} Mayor Ellen O. Moyer (Dem) Area  - Total  - Water 19. ... Baltimore skyline at dusk Motto: The Greatest City in America (formerly The City That Reads; BELIEVE is not the official motto but rather a specific campaign) Nickname: Charm City Mob Town B-more Location in Maryland Founded 30 July 1729 Incorporated 1797 County Independent city Borough {{{borough}}} Parrish {{{parrish}}} Mayor... Boscawen is a town located in Merrimack County, New Hampshire. ... Brattleboro, Vermont Brattleboro is a town located in Windham County, Vermont. ... Lockport, New York refers to both a city and a town in Niagara County, New York, near Niagara Falls and Buffalo. ... Millbury is a town located in Worcester County, Massachusetts. ... George Washington (February 22, 1732 – December 14, 1799) was the successful Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army in the American Revolutionary War (1775–1783), and later became the first President of the United States, an office to which he was elected twice (1789-1797). ... City nickname: The Elm City Location in the state of Connecticut Founded April 24, 1638 County New Haven County Mayor John DeStefano, Jr. ... Midtown Manhattan, looking north from the Empire State Building, 2005 New York City (officially named the City of New York) is the most populous city in the state of New York and the entire United States. ... Nickname: Beehive of Industry Motto: {{{motto}}} Official website: http://www. ... The Gateway Arch, shown here behind the Old Courthouse, is the most recognizable part of the St. ...

Timeline

1639 - First American Post Office set up in Boston Events January 14 - Connecticuts first constitution, the Fundamental Orders, is adopted. ...

1672 - New York City mail service to Boston, Massachusetts Events England, France, Munster and Cologne invade the United Provinces, therefore this name is know as ´het rampjaar´ (the disaster year) in the Netherlands. ... State nickname: The Empire State Official languages English Capital Albany Largest city New York City Governor George Pataki (R) Senators Charles Schumer (D) Hillary Clinton (D) Area  - Total  - % water Ranked 27th 141,205 km² 13. ... Boston is a town and small port c. ...

1674 - Mail service in Connecticut Events February 19 - England and the Netherlands sign the Treaty of Westminster. ... State nickname: The Constitution State Official languages English Capital Hartford Largest city Bridgeport Governor M. Jodi Rell (R) Senators Chris Dodd (D) Joe Lieberman (D) Area  - Total  - % water Ranked 48th 14,371 km² 12. ...

1683 - William Penn begins weekly service to Pennsylvania and Maryland villages and towns Events June 6 - The Ashmolean Museum opens as the worlds first university museum. ... For the British admiral, see William Penn (admiral). ... State nickname: The Keystone State Official languages None Capital Harrisburg Largest city Philadelphia Governor Ed Rendell (D) Senators Arlen Specter (R) Rick Santorum (R) Area  - Total  - % water Ranked 33rd 119,283 km² 2. ... State nickname: Old Line State; Free State Official languages None Capital Annapolis Largest city Baltimore Governor Robert L. Ehrlich (R) Senators Paul Sarbanes (D) Barbara Mikulski (D) Area  - Total  - % water Ranked 42nd 32,160 km² 21 Population  - Total (2000)  - Density Ranked 19th 5,296,486 165/km² (5th) Admission into...

1693 - service between colonies began in Virginia Events January 11 - Eruption of Mt. ... State nickname: Old Dominion Official languages English Capital Richmond Largest city Virginia Beach Governor Mark R. Warner (D) Tim Kaine (D-Governor Elect) Senators John Warner (R) George Allen (R) Area  - Total  - % water Ranked 35th 110,862 km² 7. ...

1775 - First postmaster general appointed: Benjamin Franklin 1775 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... Benjamin Franklin by Jean-Baptiste Greuze 1777 Benjamin Franklin (January 17, 1706 – April 17, 1790) was one of the most prominent of Founders and early political figures and statesmen of the United States. ...

1785 - First trans-Atlantic air-borne mail delivery by hot-air balloon (?)from America to Benjamin Franklin in France 1785 was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ...

1799 - U.S. Congress passes law authorizing death penalty for mail robbery 1799 was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ...

1813 - First mail carried by steamboat 1813 is a common year starting on Friday (link will take you to calendar). ... Paddle steamers - Lucerne-Switzerland Left: original paddlewheel from a paddle steamer on the lake of Lucerne. ...

1832 - First official railroad mail service 1832 was a leap year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ...

1857 - perforated stamps introduced 1857 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ...

1860 - Pony Express started 1860 is the leap year starting on Sunday. ... The Utah portion of the Pony Express Trail. ...

1893 - First commerative event stamps: Chicago World's Fair 1893 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... World Columbian Exposition, Chicago, 1893 The World Columbian Exposition (also called The Chicago Worlds Fair), a Worlds fair, was held in Chicago in 1893 to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Christopher Columbuss discovery of the New World. ...

1913 - Parcel delivery began 1913 (MCMXIII) is a common year starting on Wednesday. ...

1918 - First airmail stamps used 1918 (MCMXVIII) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar (see link for calendar) or a common year starting on Wednesday of the Julian calendar. ...

1920 - Transcontinental mail between New York and San Francisco 1920 (MCMXX) is a leap year starting on Thursday (link will take you to calendar) // Events January January 7 - Forces of Russian White admiral Kolchak surrender in Krasnoyarsk. ...

1958 - Well-known artists begin designing stamps 1958 (MCMLVIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

1963 - Zip-codes introduced 1963 (MCMLXIII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ...

First stamps

1847 5¢; the first US stamp, Scott #1

1847 10¢, Scott #2

Congress finally provided for the issuance of stamps by passing an act on March 3, 1847, and the Postmaster-General immediately let a contract to the New York City firm of Rawdon, Wright, Hatch, and Edson. The first stamp issues of the U.S. were offered for sale on July 1, 1847, in NYC, with Boston receiving stamps the following year and other cities thereafter. They consisted of an engraved 5-cent red brown stamp depicting Benjamin Franklin (the first postmaster of the US), and a 10-cent value in black with George Washington. As for all U.S. stamps until 1857, they were imperforate. Although a number of philatelists have studied these stamps for years, much remains unknown about the details of the original contract, design process, and the printing of these stamps. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (600x787, 155 KB) United States 5-cent postage stamp of 1847, scanned April 2005 by User:Stan Shebs File links The following pages link to this file: Postage stamps and postal history of the United States User:Stan Shebs/Gallery/Philately... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (600x787, 155 KB) United States 5-cent postage stamp of 1847, scanned April 2005 by User:Stan Shebs File links The following pages link to this file: Postage stamps and postal history of the United States User:Stan Shebs/Gallery/Philately... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (600x755, 161 KB) United States 10-cent postage stamp of 1847, scanned April 2005 by User:Stan Shebs File links The following pages link to this file: Postage stamps and postal history of the United States User:Stan Shebs/Gallery/Philately... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (600x755, 161 KB) United States 10-cent postage stamp of 1847, scanned April 2005 by User:Stan Shebs File links The following pages link to this file: Postage stamps and postal history of the United States User:Stan Shebs/Gallery/Philately... March 3 is the 62nd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (63rd in leap years). ... 1847 was a common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... The Postmaster General is the executive head of the United States Postal Service. ... July 1 is the 182nd day of the year (183rd in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 183 days remaining. ... 1847 was a common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... Boston is a town and small port c. ... Engraving is the practice of incising a design onto a hard, flat surface, by cutting grooves into it. ... Benjamin Franklin by Jean-Baptiste Greuze 1777 Benjamin Franklin (January 17, 1706 – April 17, 1790) was one of the most prominent of Founders and early political figures and statesmen of the United States. ... Black is a color with several subtle differences in meaning. ... George Washington (February 22, 1732 – December 14, 1799) was the successful Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army in the American Revolutionary War (1775–1783), and later became the first President of the United States, an office to which he was elected twice (1789-1797). ... 1857 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... For postage stamps, separation is the means by which individual stamps are made easily detachable from each other. ...

3 cents, 1851

1 cent, 1851, type II

The stamps were an immediate success; about 3,700,000 of the 5¢ and about 865,000 of the 10¢ were sold, and enough of those have survived to ensure a ready supply for collectors, although the demand is such that a very fine 5¢ sells for around US$500 as of 2003, and the 10¢ for around $1,400 in used form. Unused stamps are much rarer, fetching around $6,000 and $28,000 respectively. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (600x755, 149 KB) United States 3-cent postage stamp of 1851 with a likely plate crack, scanned April 2005 by User:Stan Shebs File links The following pages link to this file: Postage stamps and postal history of the United States... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (600x755, 149 KB) United States 3-cent postage stamp of 1851 with a likely plate crack, scanned April 2005 by User:Stan Shebs File links The following pages link to this file: Postage stamps and postal history of the United States... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (600x791, 164 KB) United States 1-cent postage stamp of 1851, type II, scanned April 2005 by User:Stan Shebs File links The following pages link to this file: Postage stamps and postal history of the United States User:Stan Shebs... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (600x791, 164 KB) United States 1-cent postage stamp of 1851, type II, scanned April 2005 by User:Stan Shebs File links The following pages link to this file: Postage stamps and postal history of the United States User:Stan Shebs... 2003 is a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar, and also: The International Year of Freshwater The European Disability Year Events January events January 1 Luíz Inácio Lula Da Silva becomes the 37th President of Brazil. ...

The post office had become so efficient by 1851 that Congress was able to reduce the common rate to three cents (which remained unchanged for over a century), necessitating a new issue of stamps. Values included a 1¢ profile of Franklin in blue, a 3¢ profile of Washington in red brown, a 5¢ portrait of Thomas Jefferson, and portraits of Washington for 10¢ green and 12¢ black values. The 1c stamp achieved notoriety, at least among philatelists, because production problems led to substantial plate modifications, and there are no less than seven major varieties, ranging in price from $100 to $200,000, and sharp-eyed collectors periodically find the rare types going unrecognized. 1851 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ...

1857 saw the introduction of perforation, and in 1860 24¢, 30¢, and 90¢ values (with still more images of Washington and Franklin) were issued for the first time. 1857 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... A perforation is a hole made by puncturing a surface. ... 1860 is the leap year starting on Sunday. ...

Civil war

The outbreak of the American Civil War threw the postal system into turmoil. On April 13, 1861 (the day after the firing on Fort Sumter, John H. Reagan, postmaster-general of the Confederate States of America, ordered local postmasters to return their US stamps to Washington DC (although it is unlikely that many did so), while in May the Union decided to withdraw and invalidate all existing US stamps, and to issue new stamps. Confederate post offices were left without legitimate stamps for several months, and while many reverted to the old system of cash payment at the post office, over one hundred post offices across the South came up with their own provisional issues. Many of these are quite rare, with only single examples surviving of some types. Eventually the Confederate government issued its own stamps; see stamps and postal history of the Confederate States. The American Civil War (1861–1865) was fought in North America within the United States of America, between twenty-four mostly northern states of the Union and the Confederate States of America, a coalition of eleven southern states that declared their independence and claimed the right of secession from the... 13 April is the 103rd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (104th in leap years). ... 1861 is a common year starting on Tuesday. ... Before the attack Map detailing the location of Fort Sumter 1861, inside the fort flying the Confederate Flag Fort Sumter under fire Fort Sumter, South Carolina, viewed from a sandbar in Charleston Harbor, 1865. ... John Henninger Reagan (October 8, 1818 - March 6, 1905), was an Nineteenth Century Texan Democratic politician and postmaster general of the Confederacy. ... Motto: Deo Vindice (Latin: With God As Our Vindicator) Anthem: God Save the South (unofficial) Dixie (popular) Capital Montgomery, Alabama February 4, 1861–May 29, 1861 Richmond, Virginia May 29, 1861–April 9, 1865 Danville, Virginia April 3–April 10, 1865 Largest city New Orleans February 4, 1861 until captured... 5c Jefferson Davis stamp This is a survey of the postage stamps and postal history of the Confederate States of America. ...

In the North, the new stamp designs became available in August, and old stamps were accepted in exchange until the end of the year. The whole process was very confusing to the public, and there are number of covers from 1862 and later with 1857 stamps and bearing the marking "OLD STAMPS NOT RECOGNIZED". 1862 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ...

The 1861 stamps had in common the letters "U S" in their design. The original issue included 1¢, 3¢, 5¢, 10¢, 12¢, 24¢, 30¢, and 90¢ stamps. Several are superficially similar to their earlier counterparts, differing primarily in the design of the frame.

The "Black Jack", 1863

A 2¢ stamp in black featuring Andrew Jackson was issued in 1863 and is now known to collectors as the "Black Jack". A black 15¢ stamp depicting the recently-assassinated Abraham Lincoln was issued in 1866, and is generally considered part of the same series. Although it was not officially described as such, and the 15¢ value was chosen to cover newly-established fee for registered letters, many philatelists consider this to be the first memorial stamp ever issued. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (600x739, 162 KB) United States 2-cent postage stamp of 1863 (the Black Jack), scanned April 2005 by User:Stan Shebs File links The following pages link to this file: Postage stamps and postal history of the United States User:Stan... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (600x739, 162 KB) United States 2-cent postage stamp of 1863 (the Black Jack), scanned April 2005 by User:Stan Shebs File links The following pages link to this file: Postage stamps and postal history of the United States User:Stan... Andrew Jackson (March 15, 1767 – June 8, 1845), eponym of the era of Jacksonian democracy and a founder of the Democratic Party, was the seventh President of the United States, serving from 1829 to 1837. ... 1863 is a common year starting on Thursday. ... Blackjack or Black Jack may refer to: Blackjack, the card game Black Jack a variation of Crazy Eights popular in the United Kingdom Blackjack, the two-cent postage stamp depicting Andrew Jackson, issued by the United States in 1863 Black Jack, a nickname of General John J. Pershing Blackjack, a... Abraham Lincoln (February 12, 1809 – April 15, 1865), sometimes called Abe Lincoln and nicknamed Honest Abe, the Rail Splitter, and the Great Emancipator, was the 16th President of the United States (1861 to 1865), and the first president from the Republican Party. ... 1866 is a common year starting on Monday. ...

The war greatly increased the amount of mail in the North; ultimately about 1,750,000,000 copies of the 3¢ stamp were printed, and a great many have survived to the present day, typically selling for 2-3 dollars apiece. Most are rose-colored; pink versions are much rarer and quite expensive, especially the "pigeon blood pink" which goes for $3,000 and up. Species About 100, see text A rose is a flowering shrub of the genus Rosa and the flower of this shrub. ... Pink is a color made by mixing red and white and sometimes described as being a light red, but it is more accurately a bright undersaturated red. ...

Grills

"G" grill on an 1869 issue

In this 3-cent stamp, the grill pattern is visible in the cancel.

During the 1860s, the postal authorities became concerned about postage stamp reuse. Although there is little evidence that this actually occurred much, many post offices had never received any cancelling devices, and improvised by scribbling on the stamp with an ink pen ("pen cancellation"), or whittling designs in pieces of cork, sometimes very creatively ("fancy cancels"), and poor-quality ink could be washed from the stamp. A number of inventors patented various ideas to solve the imagined problem. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (750x742, 145 KB) Photo of a postage stamp grill (G grill) as seen from the back of a US 1869 stamp, taken April 2005 by User:Stan Shebs The G grill is 12 points across by 11 to 11 1/2... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (750x742, 145 KB) Photo of a postage stamp grill (G grill) as seen from the back of a US 1869 stamp, taken April 2005 by User:Stan Shebs The G grill is 12 points across by 11 to 11 1/2... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (750x916, 197 KB) United States 3-cent postage stamp of 1867, with F grill, scanned April 2005 by User:Stan Shebs File links The following pages link to this file: Postage stamps and postal history of the United States User:Stan... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (750x916, 197 KB) United States 3-cent postage stamp of 1867, with F grill, scanned April 2005 by User:Stan Shebs File links The following pages link to this file: Postage stamps and postal history of the United States User:Stan... // Events and trends Technology The First Transcontinental Railroad in the United States is built in the six year period between 1863 and 1869. ... In the earlier days of the postage stamp, postal officials worried much about the problem of postage stamp reuse, and invented a number of schemes to mark or deface the stamps. ... A cork stopper for a wine bottle A Champagne cork Cork material is a subset of generic cork tissue, harvested for commercial use primarily from the Cork Oak tree, Quercus suber, with Portugal producing most cork worldwide. ... US 2-cent stamp of 1870, cancelled with a leaf shape in blue ink A fancy cancel is a postal cancellation that includes an artistic design. ...

The Post Office eventually adopted the grill, a device consisting of a pattern of tiny pyramidal bumps that would emboss the stamp, breaking up the fibers so that the ink would soak in more deeply, and thus be harder to clean off. While the patent survives (No. 70,147), much of the actual process of grilling was not well-documented, and there has been considerable research trying to recreate what happened and when. Study of the stamps shows that there were ten types in use, distinguished by size and shape (philatelists have labelled them with letters A-I and Z), and that the practice started some time in 1867 and was abandoned around 1871. A number of grilled stamps are among the great rarities of US philately; the United States 1¢ Z grill is the rarest of all US stamps, with only two known to exist. (See grilled stamp for more details.) EMBOSS is The European Molecular Biology Open Software Suite. EMBOSS is a free Open Source software analysis package specially developed for the needs of the molecular biology (e. ... 1867 was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... 1871 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... G grill on a stamp of the 1869 issue A grill on a postage stamp is an embossed pattern of small indentations intended to discourage postage stamp reuse. ...

1869s

15 cent value depicting the landing of Christopher Columbus

3 cent value depicting a locomotive

In 1868 the Post Office contracted with the National Bank Note Company to produce new stamps with a variety of designs. These came out in 1869, and were notable for the variety of their subjects; the 2¢ depicted a Pony Express rider, the 3¢ a locomotive, the 12¢ the steamship Adriatic, the 15¢ the landing of Christopher Columbus, and the 24¢ the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (750x754, 181 KB) United States 15-cent postage stamp of 1869, scanned April 2005 by User:Stan Shebs File links The following pages link to this file: User:Stan Shebs Postage stamps and postal history of the United States User:Stan... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (750x754, 181 KB) United States 15-cent postage stamp of 1869, scanned April 2005 by User:Stan Shebs File links The following pages link to this file: User:Stan Shebs Postage stamps and postal history of the United States User:Stan... Image File history File links United States 3-cent postage stamp of 1869, scanned April 2005 by User:Stan Shebs File links The following pages link to this file: Postage stamps and postal history of the United States User:Stan Shebs/Gallery/Philately ... Image File history File links United States 3-cent postage stamp of 1869, scanned April 2005 by User:Stan Shebs File links The following pages link to this file: Postage stamps and postal history of the United States User:Stan Shebs/Gallery/Philately ... 1868 (MDCCCLXVIII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar or a leap year starting on Friday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar. ... 1869 is a common year starting on Friday (link will take you to calendar). ... The Utah portion of the Pony Express Trail. ... A locomotive (from lat. ... Paddle steamers - Lucerne-Switzerland Left: original paddlewheel from a paddle steamer on the lake of Lucerne. ... Several notable steamships have been named SS Adriatic, after the Adriatic Sea. ... Christopher Columbus (conjectural image by Sebastiano del Piombo). ... U.S. Declaration of Independence The Declaration of Independence is a document in which the Thirteen Colonies declared themselves independent of the Kingdom of Great Britain and explained their justifications for doing so. ...

Other innovations included the first use of two-color printing on U.S. stamps, and as a consequence the first inverted stamps. Although popular with collectors today, the unconventional stamps were the targets of much scorn when they came out, and were superseded by a new issue just a year later.

"Bank Notes"

The stamps of the 1870s and 1880s are collectively known as the "Bank Notes" because they were produced by the American Bank Note Company, Columbian Bank Note Company, and National Bank Note Company. After the 1869 fiasco, the new Postmaster-General decided to base a series of stamps on the "heads, in profile, of distinguished deceased Americans" using "marble busts of acknowledged excellence" as models. The various subjects included both presidents and other notables, such as Henry Clay and Oliver Hazard Perry. National first printed these, then in 1873 Continental received the contract—and the plates that National used. Continental added secret marks to the plates of the lower values, distinguishing them from the previous issues. The American Bank Note Company acquired Columbian in 1879, and took over the contract printing similar designs on softer papers and with some color changes. Events and Trends Technology The invention of the telephone (1876) by Alexander Graham Bell. ... // Events and Trends Technology Development and commercial production of electric lighting Development and commercial production of gasoline-powered automobile by Karl Benz, Gottlieb Daimler and Maybach First commercial production and sales of phonographs and phonograph recordings. ... Henry Clay Henry Clay (April 12, 1777 in Hanover County, Virginia – June 29, 1852 in Washington, D.C.) was an American statesman and orator who served in both the House of Representatives and Senate. ... Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry (August 23, 1785 – August 23, 1819) was an officer in the United States Navy. ... 1873 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calaber). ... 1879 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ...

During the 1880s, some new designs came out, including a 5¢ stamp in 1882 honoring the assassinated President Garfield. In 1890, a new series came out with the same basic designs, but in a smaller size. 1882 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... James Abram Garfield (November 19, 1831 – September 19, 1881) was the 20th President of the United States (1881), and the second U.S. President to be assassinated. ... 1890 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ...

Columbian Issue

The World Columbian Exposition of 1893 commemorated the 400th anniversary of the landing of Christopher Columbus in the Americas. The Post Office got in on the act, issuing a series of 16 stamps depicting Columbus and episodes in his career, ranging in value from 1¢ to $5 (a princely sum in those days). They are often considered the first commemorative stamps issued by any country. The stamps were interesting and attractive, designed to appeal to both collectors and the general public. They were quite successful (a great contrast to the pictorials of 1869), with lines spilling out of the nation's post offices to buy the stamps. They are still prized by collectors today, with prices steadily climbing from a few cents for the low values, to $2,000 for the $5 stamp—less than 22,000 having been sold for the then-princely sum. See Columbian Issue. One-third scale replica of The Republic, which once stood in the great basin at the exposition, Chicago, 2004 The World Columbian Exposition (also called The Chicago Worlds Fair), a Worlds fair, was held in Chicago in 1893 to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Christopher Columbuss discovery... 1893 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... Christopher Columbus (conjectural image by Sebastiano del Piombo). ... The Common Man featured in a commemorative golden postage stamp released by the Indian Postal Service on the 150th anniversary of the Times of India - 1988 A commemorative stamp is a postage stamp issued to honor or commemorate a place, event or person. ...

Bureau issues

Also during 1893, the Bureau of Engraving and Printing competed for the stamp printing contract, and won it on the first try. The stamps of the 1894 series were generally similar to those of 1890, but with triangles in the upper corners. In 1895 counterfeits of the 2¢ value were discovered, which prompted the BEP to begin issuing stamps printed on watermarked paper for the first time in US history; a practice that would be abandoned in 1917. BEP Annual Production Figures Categories: U.S. Dept. ... 1895 was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... A counterfeit is an imitation that is made with the intent to deceptively represent its content or origins. ... This Crown & CA (for Crown Agent) watermark was standard for postage stamps of the British colonies from the 1880s to the 1920s. ... 1917 (MCMXVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar (see link for calendar) or a common year starting on Tuesday of the 13-day slower Julian calendar. ...

Turn of the century

In 1898, the Trans-Mississippi Exposition opened in Omaha, Nebraska, and the Post Office was ready with the Trans-Mississippi Issue. Originally to be bi-colored, the needs of the Spanish-American War consumed too much of the BEP's ability, and the stamps came out in single colors. They were received favorably, though with less excitement than the Columbians; but like the Columbians, they are today prized by collectors, and many consider that the $1 "Black Bull" is the most attractive of all U.S. stamps. 1898 (MDCCCXCVIII) was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Monday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar). ... Categories: United States-related stubs | Worlds Fairs ... Motto: Nickname: Location in Nebraska Founded Incorporated 1854 1857  County Douglas County Borough {{{borough}}} Parrish {{{parrish}}} Mayor Michael Fahey Area  - Total  - Water 307. ... Flag cancel used on a 2c Trans-Miss The Trans-Mississippi Issue, or Trans-Miss for short, is a set of nine commemorative postage stamps issued by the United States to mark the 1898 Trans-Mississippi Exposition held in Omaha, Nebraska. ... Combatants United States and Cuban rebel forces Spain Commanders {{{commander1}}} {{{commander2}}} Strength {{{strength1}}} {{{strength2}}} Casualties 2,446 combat dead or wounded (US only) Cubans not counted 5,500 combat dead or wounded The Spanish-American War took place in 1898, and resulted in the United States of America gaining control... Flag cancel used on a 2c Trans-Miss The Trans-Mississippi Issue, or Trans-Miss for short, is a set of nine commemorative postage stamps issued by the United States to mark the 1898 Trans-Mississippi Exposition held in Omaha, Nebraska. ...

Another high spot in stamp design came with the definitive series of 1902, although some of the philatelic press criticized the florid designs. 1902 (MCMII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ...

The Washington-Franklin era

2¢ Washington of 1914 (perf. 10, wmkd. single-line USPS

1908 saw the beginning of the long-running Washington-Franklin series of stamps. Although there were just two basic designs, a profile of Washington and one of Franklin, the Post Office was going through a period of experimentation. The result was several variations on the design, a half-dozen different perforations, three kinds of watermarking, three printing methods, and large numbers of values, all adding to several hundred distinct types identified by collectors. Some are quite rare, but many are extremely common; this was the era of the postcard craze, and almost every antique shop in the U.S. will have some postcards with green 1¢ or 2¢ stamps from this series. ImageMetadata File history File links Stamp_US_1914_2c. ... ImageMetadata File history File links Stamp_US_1914_2c. ... 1908 (MCMVIII) is a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar). ... A sample of various postcards. ...

This era started to see the regular issue of individual commemorative stamps instead of the large sets of the 1890s, at a rate of about one or two stamps each year.

The 1920s and 1930s

The stamps of the 1920s were dominated by the Series of 1922, the first new design of stamps to appear in a generation. The lower values depicted various Presidents, with the 5c particularly intended as a memorial of the recently-deceased Theodore Roosevelt, while the higher values included an "American Indian" (Hollow Horn Bear), the Statue of Liberty, Golden Gate (sans bridge, which had yet to be built), Niagara Falls, a buffalo, the Lincoln Memorial and so forth. Stamp printing was switching from a flat plate press to a rotary press while these stamps were in use, and most come in two perforations as a result; 11 for flat plate, and 11x10.5 for rotary. Theodore Roosevelt (October 27, 1858 – January 6, 1919) was the 26th (1901–09) President of the United States. ... Assiniboin Boy, an Atsina Native Americans in the United States (also Indians, American Indians, First Americans, Indigenous Peoples, Aboriginal Peoples, Aboriginal Americans, Amerindians, Amerinds, or Original Americans) are those indigenous peoples within the territory that is now encompassed by the continental United States, and their descendants in modern times. ... The Statue of Liberty (dedicated on October 28, 1886), in full Liberty Enlightening the World, is an allegorical statue, given to the United States by the French Third Republic in the late 19th century, standing at the mouth of the Hudson River in New York Harbor as a welcome to... This article is about the strait in California. ... The Horseshoe Falls, one of the three Niagara Falls. ... Binomial name Bison bison Linnaeus, 1758 Subspecies B. b. ... The Lincoln Memorial, built 1915 - 1922 Aerial view of the Lincoln Memorial. ... A rotary printing press is a printing press in which the impressions are curved around a wheel so that the printing can be done on long continuous rolls of paper, cardboard, plastic, or a large number of other substrates. ...

The 1920s saw a number of 150th anniversaries connected with the American Revolutionary War, and a number of stamps were issued in connection with those. These included the first US souvenir sheet, for the Battle of White Plains sesquicentenary, and the first overprint, reading "MOLLY / PITCHER", the heroine of the Battle of Monmouth. Combatants American Revolutionaries, France, allies British Empire, allies Commanders George Washington Comte de Rochambeau Nathanael Greene William Howe Henry Clinton Charles Cornwallis Strength {{{strength1}}} {{{strength2}}} Casualties {{{casualties1}}} {{{casualties2}}} The American Revolutionary War (1775–1783), also known as the American War of Independence, was the military side of the American Revolution. ... Battle of White Plains Historic Site Battle of White Plains Historic Site : George Washingtons HQ The Battle of White Plains was an inconclusive meeting on October 28, 1776 in the American Revolutionary War. ... An overprint is the addition of text (and sometimes graphics) to the face of a postage stamp after it has been printed. ... Molly Pitcher was a generic name applied to women who bravely carried water (usually in buckets) to men on the battlefield during the American Revolutionary War. ... The Battle of Monmouth was an inconclusive battle of the American Revolutionary War fought on June 28, 1778. ...

In 1929, theft problems in the Midwest led to the Kansas-Nebraska overprints on the regular stamps.-1...

65-cent "Zeppelin" of 1930, issued in April for the May-June Pan-American flight of the Graf Zeppelin

The German zeppelins were of much interest during this period, and in 1930 the Department issued special stamps to be used on the Pan-American flight of LZ 127 Graf Zeppelin. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1200x561, 199 KB) Scan of United States 64c airmail Zeppelin stamp of 1930, made by User:Stan Shebs File links The following pages link to this file: Postage stamps and postal history of the United States Zeppelin mail LZ 127 Graf... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1200x561, 199 KB) Scan of United States 64c airmail Zeppelin stamp of 1930, made by User:Stan Shebs File links The following pages link to this file: Postage stamps and postal history of the United States Zeppelin mail LZ 127 Graf... Graf Zeppelin, filled with abundant hydrogen, circumnavigated the globe. ... LZ127 Graf Zeppelin, the most travelled airship in history A Zeppelin is a type of rigid airship (or dirigible) pioneered by Count Ferdinand von Zeppelin in the early 20th century based on an earlier design by David Schwarz. ... 1930 (MCMXXX) is a common year starting on Wednesday. ... Graf Zeppelin, filled with abundant hydrogen, circumnavigated the globe. ...

Although the stamps are today highly prized by collectors as masterpieces of the engraver's art, in 1930 the recent stock market crash meant that few were able to afford these stamps (the $4.55 value for the set represented a week's food allowance for a family of four). Less than 10% of the 1,000,000 of each denomination issued were sold and the remainders were incinerated (the stamps were only available for sale to the public from April 19, 1930 to June 30, 1930). It is estimated that less than 8 percent of the stamps produced survive today and they remain the smallest U.S. issue of the 20th century (only 229,260 of these stamps were ever purchased, and only 61,296 of the $2.60 stamp were sold).

In 1933, Franklin D. Roosevelt became President. He was notable not only as an avid collector in his own right (with a collection estimated at around 1 million stamps), but also for taking an interest in the stamp issues of the Department; many designs of the 1930s were inspired or altered according to his advice. 1933 (MCMXXXIII) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). ... Franklin Delano Roosevelt (January 30, 1882–April 12, 1945), 32nd President of the United States, the longest-serving holder of the office and the only man to be elected President more than twice, was one of the central figures of 20th century history. ...

Prexies

U.S. 2¢ stamp of 1938 with precancel

The famous Presidential Issue, known as "Prexies" for short, came out in 1938. The series featured all 29 U.S. presidents through Calvin Coolidge, as small busts printed on solid-color designs through 50¢, then black on white with colored lettering for $1, $2, and $5 values. Additional stamps depicted Franklin (1/2¢), Martha Washington (1 1/2¢), and the White House (4 1/2¢). Many of the values were just included so that all presidents were on a stamp and did not necessarily correspond to a postal rate, and one of the (difficult) games for Prexie collectors is to find a cover with, for instance, a single 16¢ stamp that pays a combination of rate and fees valid during the Prexies' period of usage. Many such covers remain to be discovered; some sellers on eBay have been surprised to discover an ordinary-seeming cover bid up to several hundred dollars because it was one of the sought-after solo usages. US 2c stamp of 1938 precancelled, scanned by User:Stan Shebs This image of a postage stamp has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ... US 2c stamp of 1938 precancelled, scanned by User:Stan Shebs This image of a postage stamp has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ... 1938 (MCMXXXVIII) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will take you to calendar). ... John Calvin Coolidge, Jr. ... Martha Washington Martha Dandridge Parke-Custis Washington (June 2, 1731-May 22, 1802) served as the first First Lady of the United States when her second husband, George Washington, served as the first President, from 1789 to 1797. ... The southern side of the White House The White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the President of the United States of America. ... eBay Inc. ...

Modern U.S. stamps

The post-WWII stamp program followed a consistent pattern for many years; a steady stream of commemoratives issued as single stamps priced at the first-class letter rate. Beginning in 1948, the Congress of the United States began to push the Post Office for stamps proposed by constituents, leading to a relative flood of obscure stamps that was not well-regulated until the formation of the Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee (CSAC) in 1957. 1948 (MCMXLVIII) is a leap year starting on Thursday (link will take you to calendar). ... Congress in Joint Session. ... The United States Postal Services Citizens Stamp Advisory Committee (CSAC) is a committee whose purpose is to evaluate potential subjects for U.S. postage stamps, stamped post cards and postal stationery. ... 1957 (MCMLVII) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

The Liberty issue of 1954, deep in the Cold War, took a much more political slant than previous issues. The common first-class stamp was a 3¢ Statue of Liberty in purple, and included the inscription "In God We Trust", the first explicit religious reference on a U.S. stamp. The other stamps included liberty-related subjects and themes, such as Patrick Henry, although other subjects, such as Benjamin Harrison, are harder to explain. 1954 (MCMLIV) was a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ... For the generic term for a high-tension struggle between countries, see cold war (war). ... The Statue of Liberty (dedicated on October 28, 1886), in full Liberty Enlightening the World, is an allegorical statue, given to the United States by the French Third Republic in the late 19th century, standing at the mouth of the Hudson River in New York Harbor as a welcome to... In God We Trust on the twenty dollar bill In God We Trust is the national motto of the United States of America. ... Patrick Henry (May 29, 1736 – June 6, 1799) was a prominent figure in the American Revolution, known and remembered primarily for his stirring oratory. ... Benjamin Harrison (August 20, 1833 – March 13, 1901) was the 23rd President of the United States (1889-1893). ...

The 3¢ rate for first-class had been unchanged since 1851, but by 1958 there were no more efficiency gains to keep the lid on prices, and the rate went to 4¢, beginning a steady series of rate increases that reached 39¢ as of 2006. 1958 (MCMLVIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 2006 is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

5¢ George Washington, 1967

The Prominent Americans series superseded the "Liberties" in the 1960s, and were themselves replaced by the Americana series in the 1970s. Image File history File links Stamp_US_1967_5c_Washington_redrawn. ... Image File history File links Stamp_US_1967_5c_Washington_redrawn. ... George Washington (February 22, 1732 – December 14, 1799) was the successful Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army in the American Revolutionary War (1775–1783), and later became the first President of the United States, an office to which he was elected twice (1789-1797). ... Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. ... The 1960s decade refers to the years from 1960 to 1969, inclusive. ... The 1970s decade refers to the years from 1970 to 1979, inclusive. ...

In 1971 the Post Office was reorganized, becoming the United States Postal Service (USPS). However, it is still heavily regulated, with for instance the CSAC continuing to decide which commemorative stamps to issue. 1971 (MCMLXXI) is a common year starting on Friday (click for link to calendar). ... A USPS truck in San Francisco A smaller truck (a Long Life Vehicle or LLV) used in suburban areas This article describes the United States Postal Service. ...

The first self-adhesive stamp was a Christmas issue of 1974. It was not considered successful, and the surviving stamps, though not rare, are all gradually becoming discolored due to the adhesive used. Self-adhesives were not issued again until 1989, gradually becoming so popular that as of 2004, only a handful of types are offered with the traditional gum (now affectionately called "manual stamps" by postal employees.) Self-adhesive stamps were first issued in such tropical climates as Sierra Leone and Tonga in an attempt to avoid the sticking-together tendencies traditional water-activated stamps had in humid conditions. ... 1974 (MCMLXXIV) is a common year starting on Tuesday (click on link for calendar). ... 1989 (MCMLXXXIX) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 2004 is a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

The Great Americans series and the Transportation coils began appearing in 1980 and 1981, respectively. The transportation coils were used steadily for some 20 years, while Great Americans still appear regularly as of 2004. The 78¢ Alice Paul self-adhesive stamp was the last in the Great Americans series. ... The $1 Seaplane is the largest denomination of the Transportation Coil Series. ... 1980 (MCMLXXX) was a leap year starting on Tuesday. ... 1981 (MCMLXXXI) is a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 2004 is a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

The increasing use of email and other technologies during the 1990s led to a decline in the amount of first-class mail, while bulk mail increased. A large variety of commemorative stamps continue to appear, but more and more of them just go to collectors, while the stamps of the average person's daily mail are nondenominated types issued specifically for businesses. E-mail, or email, is short for electronic mail and is a method of composing, sending, and receiving messages over electronic communication systems. ... The 1990s decade refers to the years from 1990 to 1999, inclusive, the last decade of the 20th Century. ...

References

• Scott catalog
• Lester G. Brookman, The Nineteenth Century Postage Stamps of the United States (Lindquist, 1947)
• Max Johl, The United States Postage Stamps of the Twentieth Century (Lindquist, 1937)