This is a "classic" American cover with two blue, ungrilled, 1 cent Benjamin Franklin postage stamps (= Scott Catalogue # 63) used in summer 1863. The envelope was postmarked in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on 11 July 1863 and addressed to Hector Orr, a well-known Philadelphia printer in the 1800s.
The 1 cent stamp was part of a set of 9 definitives issued from 1861 to 1866 and denominated 1 to 90 cents. The set replaced previous postage stamps that were declared invalid for postage at the onset of the American Civil War in the 1860s. This was done to prevent southern states from making money by selling older stamps.
The 1 cent blue Franklin was issued in August 1861. Varieties with grills (= a grid of tiny punctures in the paper) were produced and issued in later years. The original 1861 issue has no grills.
Tags: 1 cent cents Benjamin Franklin blue postage stamp stamps 1861 issue ungrilled no grill 1863 cover Philadelphia Pennsylvania covers Scott Catalog 63 envelope envelopes
This is part of a "classic" American cover with two blue, ungrilled, 1 cent Benjamin Franklin postage stamps (= Scott Catalogue # 63) used in summer 1863. The envelope was postmarked in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on 11 July 1863.
The 1 cent stamp was part of a set of 9 definitives issued from 1861 to 1866 and denominated 1 to 90 cents. The set replaced previous postage stamps that were declared invalid for postage at the onset of the American Civil War in the 1860s. This was done to prevent southern states from making money by selling older stamps.
The 1 cent blue Franklin was issued in August 1861. Varieties with grills (= a grid of tiny punctures in the paper) were produced and issued in later years. The original 1861 issue has no grills.
Unlike most modern postage stamps, classic stamps were engraved - they look better when magnified. Modern stamps look worse when magnified.
Tags: 1 cent cents Benjamin Franklin blue postage stamp stamps 1861 issue ungrilled no grill 1863 cover Philadelphia Pennsylvania covers Scott Catalog 63
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 example has a Detroit town datestamp cancel - most have Boston or New York cancels.
Tags: Scott Catalogue 1 1847 5 cent cents 5c Benjamin Franklin postage stamp stamps America America's first ever issued issue issues imperforate Detroit Michigan cancel canceled cancelled cancellation
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.
Tags: Scott Catalogue 1 cover covers 1847 1851 Boston cancel cancelled canceled cancellation used 5 cent cents Benjamin Franklin Maine
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.
Tags: Type II 2 1 cent Benjamin Franklin imperforate Scott 7 postage stamp stamps 1851 series manuscript cancel cancels canceled cancelled cancellation