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
GOLDEN GATE INTERNATIONAL EXPOSITION STAMP-ISSUE OF 1939
This stamp was issued in connection with the Golden Gate International Exposition. which opened at San Francisco, Calif., on February 18, 1939.
The stamp is 84/100 by 1 44/100 inches, arranged vertically. It was printed in purple by the rotary process and issued in sheets of 50.
The central design is a reproduction of the "Tower of the Sun", one of the outstanding architectural features of the exposition on Treasure Island in San Francisco Bay. At the base of the central design is a large number "3" in white modernized Gothic. Superimposed on the numeral is the word "Cents" in dark-face Roman, with the dates "19" and "39" in white within small squares at the left and right, respectively. At the top and sides of the stamp in dark Gothic is the wording "United States Postage" at the left; "*Golden Gate*" at the top; and "International Exposition" at the right.
First day sales of this stamp took place at the San Francisco, Calif., post office on February 18, 1939.
NEW YORK WORLD'S FAIR COMMEMORATIVE STAMP-ISSUE OF 1939
This stamp was issued in connection with the New York World's Fair which opened at New York, N.Y., on April 30, 1939.
The dimensions of the stamp are 84/100 by 1 44/100 inches, arranged vertically. It was printed in purple by the rotary process and issued in sheets of 50.
The central design is a modernistic representation, in white on a solid background, of the Trylon and Perisphere, outstanding architectural features of the fair. In the upper part of the stamp at the right of the Trylon is the inscription: "United States", "Postage", and "3 Cents", arranged in three lines. In a horizontal panel below the central design is the wording: "New York" and "World's Fair" in two lines at the left, and "1939" at the right. All lettering is white Gothic. The top and bottom edges of the stamp are bordered by white finishing lines.
This stamp was first placed on sale at the New York, N.Y., post office on April 1, 1939.
INAUGURATION OF WASHINGTON COMMEMORATIVE STAMP-ISSUE OF 1939
This stamp was provided to commemorate the sesquicentennial of the inauguration of George Washington as first President of the United States.
The stamp is 84/100 by 1 44/100 inches in dimension, arranged vertically. It was printed in purple on flat plates and issued in sheets of 50.
The central design depicts Washington taking the oath of office as first President under the Constitution on the balcony of the Federal Building, New York City, on April 30, 1789. In a curved panel forming an arch above the central design is the wording "Sesquicentennial of the Inauguration of Washington as First President", arranged in two lines, in white Gothic lettering on a dark ground. Below the central design are the dates "1789-1939" in white. The arch is supported on each side by ornamental scrolls resting on narrow panels which extend down the sides and across the lower edge of the stamp.
Included in a horizontal panel with dark ground at the top of the stamp and resting on the central arch is the inscription ". U. S. Postage ." in white Gothic lettering. Below on each side is a triangular-shaped panel. The denomination numeral "3" in white appears in ornamental shield-shaped panels in each lower corner. In a narrow horizontal panel with dark ground at the base of the stamp are the words "Three Cents" in white Gothic.
This stamp was first sold at the New York, N.Y., post office on April 30, 1939.
BASEBALL CENTENNIAL COMMEMORATIVE STAMP-ISSUE OF 1939
This stamp was issued in recognition of the celebration of the Centennial of Baseball.
The dimensions are 84/100 by 1 44/100 inches, arranged horizontalIy. It was printed in purple by the rotary process and issued in sheets of 50.
The central subject depicts a game of basebalI by a group of youthful players. In the background are a house, barn, schoolhouse, and church. Beneath the central subject in a narrow white panel is the wording "Centennial of BasebaIl" in dark Gothic. In a wider panel with dark ground at the lower edge of the stamp is the inscription "United States Postage" in white Gothic. In an up right panel with dark ground at the left are crossed bats, over which are superimposed at the center a catcher's mitt and baIl, surrounded by laurel sprays. Between the ends of the bats are the dates, "1839" at the top and "1939" below, in white. At the base of the panel, in white lettering, is a large numeral "3" with the word "Cents" below.
The stamp was first placed on sale at the Cooperstown, N.Y., post office on June 12, 1939.
PANAMA CANAL COMMEMORATIVE STAMP-ISSUE OF 1939
This stamp was issued in commemoration of the twenty fifth anniversary of the opening of the Panama Canal.
The dimensions of this stamp are 84/100 by 1 44/100 inches, arranged horizontalIy. It was printed in purple by the flat-plate process and issued in sheets of 50.
The central subject of the stamp includes framed portraits of former President Theodore Roosevelt at the left and General George W. Goethals at the right with a reproduction of a steamship passing through Gaillard Cut in the center. Above the portraits are the names "Roosevelt" and "Goethals" in dark Gothic. In a horizontal panel with dark ground at the top of the stamp is the wording "U.S. Postage" in white Gothic lettering. The ends of this panel contain ornaments of Gothic design. In each lower corner is a large numeral "3," between which is the wording "25th Anniversary Panama Canal," all in white Gothic. Below the steamer are the words "Three cents" in dark Gothic letters.
The stamp was first placed on sale on Au. gust 15, 1939, at the Navy Mail Post Office on the U.S.S. Charleston, which was at the Canal Zone on the anniversary date.
THREE-HUNDREDTH ANNIVERSARY OF PRINTING IN COLONIAL AMERICA COMMEMORATIVE STAMP-ISSUE OF 1939
This special postage stamp in the 3-cent denomination was issued in commemoration of the three hundredth anniversary of the introduction of printing in Colonial America.
The dimensions of this stamp are 84/100 by 1 44/100 inches, arranged verticaIly. It was printed in purple by the rotary process and issued in sheets of 50.
The central design is a reproduction of the first printing press used in Colonial America, underneath which is the inscription "Stephen Daye Press" in dark lettering on white ground. Above, and to the right of the press, in two lines are the dates "1639" and "1939." In two horizontal lines at the top of the stamp is the wording "300th Anniversary of Printing in Colonial America," in dark lettering. "United States Postage Three Cents" is shown in three lines in dark letters at the bottom of the stamp. In each lower corner is the numeral "3" in like lettering. All inscriptions and titles are printed in colonial style as used in that period.
The stamp was first placed on sale September 25, 1939, at the post office in New York, N.Y.
FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY OF STATEHOOD OF NORTH DAKOTA, SOUTH DAKOTA, MONTANA, AND WASHINGTON COMMEMORATIVE STAMP-ISSUE OF 1939
This special postage stamp was issued iu commemoration of the fiftieth anniversary of admission to the Union of North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, and Washington.
The stamp is 8 4/100 by 1 44/100 inches in dimension, arranged horizontally. It is printed in purple by the rotary process and issued in sheets of 50.
The central subject is an outline map showing in lighter color North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, and Washington, on a background of darker shade containing the boundary lines of the bordering States. The names of the States and their respective capitals are indicated in dark Roman lettering. In the lower center is a compass with the dates "1889" at the left and "1939" at the right in white lettering. In a narrow panel with dark ground along the top edge of the stamp is the wording "50th Anniversary of Statehood" in white Gothic. Small white ornaments are also shown at each end of this panel. In each lower corner within rectangular-shaped panels, arranged vertically with dark ground, is a large white numeral "3," with the wording "Cents" underneath in white Gothic. In a narrow panel with dark ground at the lower edge of the stamp is the wording "United States Postage" in white Gothic.
The stamp was first placed on sale in the capitals of four States on the respective anniversary dates as follows: Bismarck, N. Dak., November 2, 1939; Pierre, S. Dak., November 2, 1939; Helena, Mont., November 8, 1939; Olympia, Wash., November 11, 1939. After each first day sale the stamp was withdrawn until November 13, 1939.