This is the first-ever one cent postage stamp in American history. It's part of a series of definitive stamps issued in the 1850s. This one was issued on 1 July 1851. The one cent blue Benjamin Franklin has many types, based on details of the marginal ornaments. This one is type II (= Scott Catalogue # 7). It has a manuscript cancellation.
Early stamps were imperforate. Stamps were separated using scissors.
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