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
Pan-American Stamps of 1901
The stamps of this series were placed on sale at post offices May 1, 1901, and were withdrawn from sale October 31, 1901, the dates fixed for the opening and closing of the Pan-American Exposition at Buffalo, which they were issued to commemorate.
These stamps are of uniform dimensions, 1 6/100 by 76/100 of an inch, the longer side being horizontal. The borders take the colors of the regular series on the same denominations at this date. The words "Commemorative series, 1901", and "United States of America" next below appear above the vignette; the legend in a line next below the central opening, with the denomination in a line at the bottom, appears in the same order on all stamps of the series. All the lettering is in white Roman capitals. The numerals are all white-faced Arabic in the Roman type except the 10-cent, which is the block-letter type of figure condensed to secure space for the two figures. The borders are well separated from the central pictures, and the words of denomination at the bottom are preceded on the same line by the word "Postage." All the central illustrations are from photographs and are printed in black.
One-cent. - The lake steamer presents the port bow. It has but one funnel. The pilot house is well forward. The vessel is propelled by side wheels. The vignette is within an elliptical opening whose greatest diameter is horizontal. On either side are fluted columns whose bases are draped in form of shields, upon which, in pear-shaped enclosures, appears the figure of denomination, "1." On an entablature, which rests upon the columns and extends across the top of the stamp, are the words "Commemorative series, 1901", and beneath it "United States of America." A trigonal panel fills the upper corners between the opening and the capitals of the columns. The legend follows the lower line of the ellipse and the words of denomination follow in a line below. The spaces on either side below the opening and above the words of denomination are filled with foliate scroll work.
Two-cent. -The train of four cars is drawn by a four-drive locomotive. Four parallel tracks are shown. The vignette ground is oblong, the ends being rounded and the upper and lower sides projecting at the point of greatest diameter of the end curves and where the two meet in a corner. This upper line is slightly arched, while the lower line is straight and horizontal. The upper line of the border rises in the middle to conform to the opening below, and the device appears following this border line, outside of it. The words "United States of America" appear in two lines of two words each in the space between the border line and the opening, or ground for the vignette. Leaning on the curved lines at each end of the opening is a winged female figure bearing a torch, and beneath this figure in each lower corner is the denominational numeral. The legend "Fast express" and the words of denomination are located as in the 1-cent stamp. This may be said of the rest of the series.
Four-cent. -The automobile is of the closed coach order, with two men on the box and a part of the United States Capitol at Washington as a background. An oblong opening is provided for the vignette. The corners of this space are broken, with an entering curve on the lower angles and clipped with re-entrant angles at the top; the upper line is also slightly arched. Immediately above this, on a panel, following the curvature of the opening, rounded at the right-hand end and scrolled at the other, appear the words "Of America", while immediately above this, with an opposite curvature, are the words "United States." The device is given on the cornice ornament, the upper part of the border being an architectural cornice design. The numeral "4" is just outside the lower corners of the vignette opening, and room is made for them by the entering curves which clip its lower corners. The legend "Automobile" appears on a panel, but the words of denomination are on the open ground of the border.
Five.cent. -This depicts the large singlespan steel bridge below Niagara Falls. Two trolley cars are seen upon it, and a view of the Falls is shown under, beyond, and up the river, with the graceful springing arch as a frame. The opening for the illustration is much like that of the 4-cent stamp, except that the upper corners are notched in at right angles and the lower corners have two such entering angles, which connect with the lower straight horizontal line of the opening by a curve. The upper line of the opening describes a higher curve than that of the 4-cent stamp, and the words "United States of America", in one line, follow this curve and are immediately above it. Above these words, in a straight line, is the device, thus leaving a space in the upper corners, which is filled with a trigonal panel. The sharp angular shields bearing the figure of denomination are placed just outside the opening, midway of the ends, and upon fasces with battle-axes cutting outward. The legend is on a panel, while the words of denomination are on the general ground.
Eight.cent. -The great ship canal locks at Sault Ste. Marie, Mich., including the immediate surroundings, are given in a view from a higher point. The opening is an arch, cut at bottom just below the greatest horizontal diameter, while, though the ornamentation dims a part of the figure, the entire border is of a shield like design, its superior members being quite distinct. Small shields pendent by a cord from the upper corners bear the numeral "8" on each side. Delicate crinkled ribbon ornaments are seen at the top of the border to fill out the inward curve spaces of the shield. The legend at the bottom and words of denomination are each upon separate panels.
Ten-cent. -An American Line steamship with two smokestacks and masts presents its starboard bow lapped by a rising wave. The general outline of the opening is that of an arch, connected with the base line by are. versed curve and right angled notch. Immediately above the upper line and following the curve are the words "United States of America." Above this is a border line, the middle third of which swells upward, and on this is the device "Commemorative series, 1901", not in panel, but following the upper line. On either side of the opening is a dolphin, head down, and outside this a trident pointing up and the middle prong passing through the scroll end of a tablet. The legend is on a panel with rounded ends, and both it and the words of denomination at the bottom are in straight lines.
These stamps were first placed on sale May 1, 1901, at Buffalo, N.Y.