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

POSTAGE DUE SERIES OF 1879

These stamps are alike except for the denominations, which are expressed by Arabie numerals in the middle upon an elliptic ground of delicate lathework. Upon the upper line of this ground are the words "Postage due" in white capitals; On the lower border is the denomination in letters of the same kind. On the left and right side, respectively, and separating these inscriptions, are the letters "U" and "S" upon whiteshields. There is a complex angular ornamentation of light line work surrounding this, and the whole rests upon a darker colored beveled tablet, of which but little can be seen, though it covers the entire stamp, which is an upright rectangle 1by 25/32 of an inch in dimension. The color of all the stamps is light brown.

The color of these stamps was changed in 1884 to reddish brown and in 1891 the color was again changed to a bright claret. No change was made in the design.

POSTAGE DUES SERIES OF 1894

The dimensions of the postage due stamps were lessened when the Treasury Department assumed the manufacture of stamps in 1894, and the color was deepened to a deep claret, with smaller white numerals than had been used up to that time. The two elliptical lines enclosing the numerals, and between which the words "Postage due", the letters "U.S.", and the denomination were written in words, entirely disappeared on the lower half of the new stamp. The words "Postage due" remained in a similar position as on the original stamp, but the words of denomination described a double curved line at the bottom (as in the current regular issue below the 10-cent denomination). The initials "u" and "s" were moved to the left and right upper corners, respectively, and the tablet bearing the white figure of denomination is a four equisided scalloped figure of lathework, with the greatest diameters vertical and horizontal.

The old stamps were 1 by 25/32 of an inch in size. Their successors, mentioned above, are 7/8 by 23/32 of an inch.

POSTAGE DUE (1/2 CENT )- ISSUE OF 1925

NEW DENOMINATION

On April 13, 1925, the Department issued a new 1 1/2 cent postage due stamp to be used in the collection of postage on short paid third class matter.

The new stamp is the same shape, size and design as the series of postage due stamps, issue of 1894, except that the white numeral "1/2" appears in the center of the stamp and the words "Half cent" appear in the panel at the bottom. The color is claret.

NEW SERIES OF POSTAGE DUE STAMPS-ISSUE OF 1930

The new series of postage due stamps was made available for issuance on postmasters' requisitions beginning July 1, 1930, replacing the 1894 series. Due stamps of the following denominations were included: 1/2-cent, 1-cent, 2-cent, 3-cent, 5-cent, 10-cent, 30-cent, 50-cent, $1, and $5.

The stamps are rectangular in shape, about 75/100 by 87/100 inch in size, and printed in red. The design for the first eight denominations (1/2 cent to 50 cents, inclusive) is identical except for the necessary change in numerals representing the value. A different design was used for the $1 and $5 denominations, which are horizontal.

The stamps of the 1/2-cent to 50-cent denominations are described as follows: Across the top of the stamps are the words "United States" and directly beneath in a curved panel are the words "Postage due" in white Roman letters. At the bottom of the stamps is the word "Cent" or "Cents", and in both lower corners within ovals with dark backgrounds, appear the white numerals indicating the denomination. In the center of the stamps appears a larger numeral or numerals, resting upon a background of lathework. In the upper portion of the stamp, and on either side, are small triangular ornaments.

The $1 and $5 denominations have the same wording, except that the word "Dollar" or "Dollars" appears at the bottom of the stamp and the white numeral representing the value is within circles with dark backgrounds in both lower corners. In the center of these stamps, within a small panel, is the word "One" or "Five" in white Roman letters resting across a "$" mark with a background of ornamental lathework. Triangular ornaments also appear in the upper portion of these stamps.