United States Postage Stamps
A History
Regular, Commementive, Memorial Issues
Introduction
~ Series of 1847
Series of 1851
Series of 1861
Series of 1869
Issues of 1870
Issues of 1890&3
Columbian Series of 1893
Isues of 1894
Trans-Mississippi Exposition Stamps of
1898
Pan-American Stamps of 1901
Series of 1902-3
Lousiana Purchase Commemorative Stamps of
1904
Jamestown Commemorative Stamps of
1907
Issues of 1908-9
Issues of 1909
Issues of 1912
Panama-Pacific
Commemorative Stamps of 1913
Issues of 1914-5
Issues of 1918
Issues of 1919
Pilgram Tercentenary Commemorative Stamps
of 1920
Issues of 1922-23
Issue of 1923
Huguenot-Walloon Tercentenary Stamps of
1924
Issues of 1925
Issues of 1926
Issues of 1927
Issues of 1928
Issues of 1929
Issues of 1930
Isues of 1931
Washington Bicentennal Commemorative Stamps
of 1932 & other Issues
Issues of 1933
Issues of 1934
Issues of 1935
Special
Souvenior sheets of 1935
Issues of 1936
Issues of 1937
Issues of 1938
Issues of 1939
Famous Americans Commem's of 1940 &
Others
Vnmont Statehood of 1941
Issues of 1942
Overrun Countries commem's of 1943-44 &
Others
Issues of 1944
Roosevelt and Armed Forces Series of 1945
& Others
Issues of 1946
Issues of 1947
Air Mail Stamps
Issues
of 1918-1947
Carriers' Stamps
Issues of 1851
Newspaper & Periodical Stamps
Issues
of 1865
Issues of 1875
Issues of 1895
Offical Postage Stamps
Issues
of 1873-1884
Parcel Post Stamps
Issues of 1912-1913
Postage Due Stamps
Issues of 1879-1930
Parcel Post Postage Due Stamps
Issues of 1912
Postal Savings Offical Stamps
Issues of 1910-1911
Postal Savings Stamps
Issue
of 1911
Registry Stamp
Issue of 1911
Special Delivery Air Mail Stamp
Issue of 1934-1936
Special Delivery Stamps
Issues
of 1885-1925
Special Handling Stamp
Issue of 1925
United States Postage Stamps
1847 through 1947 ~ The first 100 years
Lousiana Purchase Commemorative Stamps - Issues of 1904
Beginning April 21, a series of postage stamps to commemorate the Louisiana purchase was issued for sale during the term of the Louisiana Purchase Exposition, from May 1 to December 1, 1904
The size of the 1904 commemorative stamp is 31/32 by 1 3/8 inches; the words "Commemorative series of 1904" in small type appear at the top of each design, with the legend "United States of America" in prominent type; and the surnames of the subjects of the 1-, 2-, 3-, and 5-cent denominations, with years of birth and death, also the denominations spelled out, are shown in the lower portion.
The purpose was to make the subjects of this series of stamps appropriate. Thus Livingston, who as United States minister to France conducted the negotiations for the Louisiana purchase; Jefferson, President of the United States at the time of the purchase; Monroe, special ambassador to France in the matte.r of the purchase, who with Livingston closed the negotiations; McKinley, who as President, approved the Acts of Congress officially connecting the Government with the commemorative exposition; and the 10 cent stamp showing the territory of the purchase itself.
One-cent. -On either side of Livingston's portrait are fluted pillars supporting a plain arch; landscapes are on either side of the portrait, the one on the left representing the swamp country of the extreme south of the purchase, that on the right an immigrant wagon approaching the mountains in the extreme northwest; in the lower corners are shields surrounding the numeral "I"; a ribbon under the portrait bears the name and the years of birth and death of the subject; a panel along the base contains the words "Postage, one cent."
Two-cent. -Over the portrait of Jefferson is a flat arch supported by fluted columns; the numeral "2" on either side is surrounded by an ellipse on end within laurel wreaths, and underneath the wreaths are ribbons showing years of birth and death of the subject; the name "Jefferson" appears in a scroll under the portrait; a panel at the base of the stamp bears the words "Postage, two cents."
Three-cent. -Below the portrait of Monroe is a ribbon showing his name, with years of birth and death. The portrait is partly surrounded by a wreath of laurel; on either side are ornamental smelds exhibiting the numeral "3"; the portrait, wreath, and ribbon are within an ornamental panel; the words "Postage, three cents" appear along the lower part of the stamp.
Five-cent. - The face of the stamp is divided into three panels by Corinthian columns supporting a panel at the top, in which the words "United States of America" appear. The portrait of McKinley is within a circle in the center panel, with the numeral "5" in an ornamental shield on either side. At the base of the panels are two palm branches separating the panels from the wording "Postage, five cents." Beneath the portrait is a ribbon bearing the name and years of birth and death of the subject.
Ten-cent. -The central figure is a map of the United States, showing the territory of the Louisiana purchase in dark tint, with the year of the purchase, "1803", obliquely across the face of the shaded portion; the border is composed of a column at either end, with ornamental shields at the bases bearing the numeral "10"; panels along the top and bottom contain the lettering.
These stamps were first placed on sale April 21, 1904, at New Orleans, La.