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
PANAMA-PACIFIC COMMEMORATIVE STAMPS - ISSUE OF 1913
This series of postage stamps, issued to commemorate the opening of the Panama Canal and the discovery of the Pacific Ocean, comprises four denominations, 1, 2, 5, and 10 cents, all of which were first placed on sale at San Francisco, Calif., January 1, 1913, except the 2-cent denomination, which was first placed on sale at the same post office on January 18, 1913.
The stamps are about 3/4 of an inch high by 1 1/16 inches wide; at the top appear the words "U. S. Postage" and "San Francisco, 1915"; in the left-hand border is a branch of laurel and in the right-hand border a palm branch; a numeral expressing the denomination is shown within a circle in each lower corner, with the word "Cents" between.
The 1-cent stamp is green and in the center appears, within a circle, a bust of Balboa, discoverer of the Pacific Ocean, looking to the left, and wearing a cuirass and a helmet with a plume. On each side of the background are palm trees, with the ocean in the foreground. Below the portrait, in a horizontal panel breaking the circle, are the words "Balboa, 1513."
The 2-cent stamp is carmine. It represents the Panama Canal, with a merchant steamer emerging from one lock and a warship in the other. The mountains of the Isthmus appear in the distance, and palm trees on the right hand side of the locks. Beneath the picture are the words "Panama Canal."
The 5 cent stamp is blue, and presents the Golden Gate of San Francisco Harbor, with the setting sun in the background and a steamer and sailing vessel in the bay. The words "Golden Gate" appear below the picture.
The 10-cent stamp is orange. The subject is "Discovery of San Francisco Bay", from a painting which represents the discovering party looking out upon the distant bay.
A model of the Pedro Miguel Locks was used as the subject of the 2-cent denomination. The title was first erroneously engraved "Gatun Locks", but the mistake was discovered before any of the stamps were issued, and all of those which had been printed were destroyed by burning. The title was reengraved as "Panama Canal", and the stamps were issued with that title.
The first print of the 10-cent denomination was found to be of too light a shade and in response to a request of the Department, dated April 9, 1913, the Bureau of Engraving and Printing adopted a darker shade of ink. These darker stamps were first issued by the Department August 25, 1913.