United States Postage stamps. History

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

THOMAS A. EDISON FAMOUS AMERICAN STAMP-ISSUE OF 1947

This stamp was issued to commemorate the one hundredth anniversary of the birth of Thomas A. Edison.

The stamp is 0.85 by 0.98 inch in dimension, arranged vertically, printed by the rotary process in purple, and issued in sheets of 70 subjects. The central design is a portrait of Thomas A. Edison, placed in the right of the center of the stamp and extending from the bottom edge to the top of the stamp except for the narrow space required for the inscription "United States Postage" in white Gothic. In the lower left corner of the stamp is a large rectangular panel arranged vertically with white background, containing at the top the name "Thomas A. Edison" in dark Gothic lettering. At the bottom of the panel, arranged in the form of a monogram, is a reproduction of a cogwheel, uplifted wings, and lightning flash; symbols of power, flight and electricity. Between the monogram and the name of the inventor appears the denomination designation "3¢" in dark modified Roman lettering.

The stamp was first placed on sale at Milan, Ohio, on February 11, 1947.

Joseph Pulitzer COMMEMORATE STAMP-ISSUE OF 1947

This stamp was issued to commemorate the one hundredth anniversary of the birth of Joseph Pulitzer.

The central design is a portrait of Joseph Pulitzer in an oval to the right, with the Statue of Liberty to the left, across which is the lettering "Our Republic and Its Press Will Rise or Fall Together" in dark modified Gothic. The dates "1847" and "1947" appear below the portrait in white Gothic with the name "Joseph Pulitzer" just below in the same style lettering. In the lower left corner in a dark counter appears the denomination "3¢" in white Gothic and to the right of which in a dark panel is the lettering "United States Postage" in the same style.

The stamp was first placed on sale at New York, N.Y., on April 10, 1947

CENTENARY OF UNITED STATES POSTAGE STAMPS COMMEMORATIVE-ISSUE OF 1947

This stamp was issued to mark the onehundredth anniversary of the original series of 1847.

The stamp is 84/100 by 1 44/100 inches in dimension, arranged horizontally, printed in blue by the rotary process, and issued in sheets of 50. In the upper portion of the stamp to the left and right are ovals bearing portraits of George Washington and Benjamin Franklin with the respective names below in white Gothic. Below these ovals and above a dark panel across the bottom, in which appears the wording "U. S. Postage Stamp Centenary" in white Gothic lettering, are the following from left to right: Pony Express, early type steam locomotive, modern locomotive, and modern steamship. Centered just above these, between the two ovals is a fourmotored plane, above which appear the dates "1847-1947" in dark Gothic. The denomination "3c" is shown in two lines of the same style of numerals in each upper corner.

This stamp was first placed on sale at New York, N.Y., on May 17, 1947.

CENTENARY OF UNITED STATES POSTAGE STAMPS SOUVENIR SHEET-ISSUE OF 1947

This special sheet containing reproductions of the original 5-cent and 10-cent stamps of the 1847 series was provided as a souvenir of the Centenary International Philatelic Exhibition held in Grand Central Palace, New York City, May 17 to 25, 1947.

The special stamp sheet is 2.67 by 3.87 inches in dimension, arranged horizontally, with the following inscriptions on the margins: "Printed by the Treasury Department,

Bureau of Engraving and Printing," at the left; "Under Authority of Robert E. Hannegan, Postmaster General," at the top; "In compliment to the Centenary International Philatelic Exhibition" at the right; and "New York, N. Y., May 17-25, 1947," at the lower edge. The 5-cent stamp is printed in blue and the 10-cent in red. The sheet is gummed but not perforated.

This special souvenir sheet was first placed on sale at New York, N.Y., on May 19, 1947.

DOCTORS COMMEMORATIVE STAMPISSUE OF 1947

This stamp was issued in honor of the doctors of America.

The stamp is 84/100 by 1 44/100 inches in dimension, arranged horizontally, printed by the rotary process in a maroon color, electric-eye perforated, and issued in sheets of 50 subjects.

The central design is a reproduction of the painting "The Doctor" by Sir Luke Fildes, across the top of which is the lettering "United States Postage" in white Gothic. In the lower left and right corners in the same style is the denomination "3c" and the wording "The Doctor," respectively.

This stamp was first placed on sale at Atlantic City, N.J., on June 9, 1947.

UTAH CENTENNIAL COMMEMORATIVE STAMP-ISSUE OF 1947

This stamp was issued to commemorate the one-hundredth anniversary of the settlement of Utah.

The stamp is 84/100 by 1 44/100 inches in dimension, arranged horizontally, printed by the rotary process in purple, electric-eye perfo. rated, and issued in sheets of 50 subjects.

The central design is an original drawing depicting the first settlers entering the valley of Great Salt Lake. Across the top in dark Gothic is the wording "United States Postage," and in the upper right corner is the denomination "3c." In the left central portion of the stamp is the lettering "This is the Place," a statement attributed to Brigham Young who led the pioneers on their journey to Utah. On a ribbon across the bottom appears "1847 The Utah Centennial 1947" in dark modified Roman.

This stamp was first placed on sale at Salt Lake City, Utah, on July 24, 1947.

U.S. FRIGATE CONSTITUTION COMMEMORATIVE STAMP-ISSUE OF 1947

This stamp was issued to commemorate the one-hundred-and-fiftieth anniversary of the launching of the U.S. Frigate Constitution, commonly known as "Old Ironsides."

The stamp is 84/100 by 1 44/100 inches in dimension, arranged horizontally, printed by the rotary process in green, electric-eye perforated, and issued in sheets of 50 subjects.

The central design is an architect's line drawing of the Constitution. The guns, shown as supporting features of the design, are drawn from the Navy Department records of the 24-pounders originally mounted in the ship. The 16 stars represent the number of States in the Union in 1797, the date of launching. The Constitution is shown running before a light breeze and approaching a home port with her commission pennant at the main. Arranged in the upper left and right corners, respectively, is the wording, "United States 3 " and "Postage 3 " in dark Roman. In a ribbon across the bottom appears the inscription, "1797 U. S. Frigate Constitution 1947" in the same lettering.

This stamp was first placed on sale at Boston, Mass., on October 21, 1947.

EVERGLADES NATIONAL PARK COMMEMORATIVE STAMP-ISSUE OF 1947

This stamp was issued to mark the dedication of the Everglades National Park.

The stamp is 84/100 by 1 44/100 inches in dimension, arranged vertically, printed by the rotary process, in green, electric-eye perforated, and issued in sheets of 50 subjects. The central design of the stamp is an outline map of the State of Florida showing the Everglades National Park area. In the foreground, and partly covering the map, is a great white heron, below which is a dark paneI with tbe lettering "United States Postage" in white Gothic. Across the top of the stamp, in two lines of white Roman lettering, is the wording "Everglades National Park."

This stamp was first placed on sale at Florida City, Fla., on December 5, 1947

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