This is one of the most famous postage stamps in American history. It's one of two stamps issued on 1 July 1847 - America's first-ever postage stamps. Britain was the first country to issue postage stamps, in 1840. America's 1847 stamps were a 5 cents Benjamin Franklin, the "father" of the postal system, and a 10 cents George Washington, the first president. The 5 cents Franklin is Scott Catalogue # 1.
Early stamps were imperforate. The 1847 and 1851 issues were produced without perforations. Stamps were separated using scissors.
This cover was sent from Boston to Maine. It has a 2 January (1851) Boston datestamp in red ink. The stamp itself is the "red brown" shade and has a black grid cancel.
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