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
GEORGE ROGERS CLARK COMMEMORATIVE STAMP (2-CENT)-ISSUE OF 1929
The George Rogers Clark stamp was issued to commemorate the one hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the surrender of Fort Sackville near the present site of the city of Vincennes, Ind.
The stamp is 1 3/32 by 1 15/32 inches in size, and is printed in two colors; the border in red and the vignette in black. The central design shows the surrender of Fort Sackville to George Rogers Clark, reproduced from a photograph of the painting by Frederick C. Yohn. The word "Vincennes" appears beneath the central design and at the top of the stamp are the words "U. S. postage" in white Roman letters. Above the vignette is a ribbon bearing the words "George Rogers Clark" with the word "Commemorative" in a curved panel directly beneath. In panels on either side of the stamp are acanthus scrolls and in the upper corners are the dates "1779" at the left and "1929" at the right. In both lower corners within circles with dark backgrounds is the white numeral "2" with the word "Cents" at the bottom of the stamp.
The first day sale of the stamp on February 25, 1929, was restricted to the post office in Vincennes, Ind.
STATE OVERPRINTED STAMPS-ISSUE OF 1929
This special issue of postage stamps was prepared by overprinting the abbreviations "Kans." and "Nebr." on stamps of the 192223 series in denominations of 1 to 10 cents, inclusive, for placing on sale in all post offices in the respective States with the exception of Kansas City, Topeka, and Wichita, Kans., Lincoln and Omaha, Nebr. The overprint was in black ink across the lower half of the stamps. The State overprinted stamps were first placed on sale May 1, 1929, in the Philatelic Agency.
This special issue of overprinted stamps was authorized as a measure of preventing losses from post-office burglaries. Approximately a year's supply of the stamps was printed and issued to postmasters in the respective States. The Department found it desirable to discontinue the State overprinted stamps after the initial supply was used.
EDISON COMMEMORATIVE STAMP (2-CENT)ISSUE OF 1929
This stamp was issued to commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of the invention of the first incandescent electric lamp by Thomas Alva Edison.
The stamp is the same size as the 2-cent ordinary stamp, 75/100 by 87/100 inch, and is printed in red ink. The central design is a picture of the original lamp with rays issuing therefrom. Immediately above and partly encircling the lamp is a ribbon with the words "Edison's First Lamp"; above this and reaching the top of the stamp is a semicircular panel with the words "United States postage" in white Roman letters. In both upper corners are ribbon scrolls with the year "1879" at the left and "1929" at the right. On either side of the lamp and through the rays of light appears the following legend: "Electric Light's Golden Jubilee." The white numeral "2" appears in both lower corners within dark circles, which are connected by a dark panel forming the base of the stamp and containing the word "Cents" in white Roman letters.
The Edison commemorative stamp was first placed on sale June 5, 1929, at the post ollice at Menlo Park, N.J. The stamp was issued in both flat plate and rotary sheets containing 100 stamps each; also in sidewise coils of 5OO and 3,000 stamps.
SULLIVAN EXPEDITION COMMEMORATIVE STAMP (2-CENT)-ISSUE OF 1929
This special stamp was issued to commemorate the one hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the Sullivan expedition in New York State during the Revolutionary War. The stamp is the same size as the regular issue, 70/100 by 87/100 inch, and is printed in red ink.
The central design is a half-length portrait of Major General Sullivan in Continental uniform over which in a semicircular panel appear the words "United States postage" in white Roman letters, on a dark background with white edges. This panel is supported on either side by brackets of scroll work forming the upper part of a narrow panel and ending at the base in dark circles with white borders. Within the circles in each lower corner appears the white numeral "2." Across the top of the stamp is a ribbon bearing the title "Sullivan Expedition" in dark architectural Roman letters. Below, in similar lettering, on either side on extensions of the ribbon panel are the dates "1779" at the left and "1929" at the right. A dark panel with white edges bearing the word "Cents" in white Roman letters connects the circles enclosing the denomination numerals. Above this base in a ribbon panel appears the wording "Maj. Gen. Sullivan" in dark Gothic letters. The entire stamp is enclosed in a narrow white border.
The Sullivan expedition commemorative stamp was first placed on sale June 17, 1929, at the following post offices: Auburn, Binghamton, Canandaigua, Canajoharie, Elmira, Geneseo, Geneva, Horseheads, Owego, Penn Yan, Perry, Seneca Falls, Waterloo, Watkins Glen, and Waverly, N.Y.
BA TTLE OF FALLEN TIMBERS COMMEMORATIVE STAMP (2-CENT)-ISSUE OF 1929
This stamp was issued as a memorial to Gen. Anthony Wayne and to commemorate the one hundred and thirty-fifth anniversary of the Battle of Fallen Timbers, which culminated his military campaign against hostile Indian tribes in the Northwest Territory. The stamp is of the same size as the regular issue, 75/100 by 87/100 inch, and is printed in red ink.
The central design of the stamp is a reproduction in white on a dark background of the memorial group on the monument erected on the site of the battlefield, containing the figure of General Wayne in the center with an Indian on the left and a frontiersman on the right. A tablet below contains the legend, "Gen. Anthony Wayne Memorial."
On the extreme upper edge of the stamp in a dark panel with white Roman lettering appear the words "United States postage." Below in a semicircular panel with white edges and white Roman lettering on a dark background are the words "Battle of Fallen Timbers." The ends of this panel are supported by uprights in the form of acanthus scrolls which end at the two lower corners in ovals having white edges and dark background. Within these ovals is the numeral "2." The ovals are connected by a base panel in dark color with the word "Cents" in white Roman letters. Between the upper horizontal and semicircular panels are white ribbons and the dates "1794" at the left and "1929" at the right in dark lettering.
The Battle of Fallen Timbers stamp was first placed on sale September 14, 1929, the date of the unvei1ing of the monument, at the post offices in Maumee, Perrysburg, Toledo, and Waterville, Ohio, and Erie, Pa.
OHIO RIVER CANALIZATION COMMEMORATIVE STAMP (2-CENT)-ISSUE OF 1929
This stamp commemorates the completion of the Ohio River canalization project between Cairo, Ill., and Pittsburgh, Pa.
The stamp is the same size as the regular issue, 75/100 by 87/100 inch, but with horizontal design, and is printed in red ink. The central design represents an Ohio River lock with surrounding scenery. At the top of the stamp within a dark panel in white Roman letters appear the words "United States postage." Below on a ribbon scroll are the words "Ohio River Canalization." In both upper corners on extensions of the ribhon scron are the dates "1875" at the left and "1929" at the right. At the bottom of the stamp in a dark panel with white edges is the word "Cents" in white Roman letters, and in both lower corners within circles with dark backgrounds appears the white numeral "2." The entire stamp is enclosed in a narrow white border.
The Ohio River canalization stamp was first placed on sale October 19, 1929, at the post offices at Cairo, Ill., Evansville, Ind., Louisville, Ky., Cincinnati, Ohio, Homestead, Pa., Pittsburgh, Pa., and Wheeling, W. Va.