The very first stamps in the United States were issued July 1st 1847. Two stamps were issued at that time. The first was a brown 5 cent stamp depicting Benjamin Franklin. This was pretty fitting considering he was the first Postmaster General of the United States.
The second stamp issued was a black 10 cent stamp featuring George Washington.
Both of these stamps were imperforate meaning that they needed to be cut apart with scissors or a knife. Wouldn't that be something if we still had to do that today?
Ready for some interesting facts? (Then again if you already know them..then they might not be interesting to you. So I guess I should have said...'Ready for some facts that were interesting to me?' )
In 1938 the Postal Service issued a Presidential Stamp Issue. This issue included all 29 Presidents through Calvin Coolidge. They were issued in a range of denominations. There were also stamps issued that were Martha Washington, The White House, and another Ben Franklin half penny stamp.
All told, 38 of our Presidents have been featured on US Postage. Just goes to show that they are probably one of the most popular deigns on our stamps.
So, if you stuck through this whole post..I appreciate it and I do hope that I was able to teach you a little something. And as always, thank you for reading my rambles.
So, you had to cut them out. I wonder if the first stamps were also pre-gummed. I know that early ones were, but I wonder if the very first ones were or if you had to apply your own glue.
ReplyDeleteFrom what I found here the very first stamps in the US were printed on pre-gummed paper.
ReplyDelete"On March 3, 1847, Congress authorized United States postage stamps. The first general issue postage stamps went on sale in New York City, July 1, 1847. One, priced at five cents, depicted Benjamin Franklin. The other, a ten-cent stamp, pictured George Washington. Clerks used scissors to cut the stamps from pregummed, nonperforated sheets. Only Franklin and Washington appeared on stamps until 1856, when a five-cent stamp honoring Thomas Jefferson was issued. A two-cent Andrew Jackson stamp was added in 1863. George Washington has appeared on more U.S. postage stamps than any other person."
The Ronald Reagan stamp was just released. I got some this last Friday! THey are rather large comparatively, but nice.
ReplyDeleteI rather liked the Ronald Reagan stamps. I must say the size was a little odd at first, but I do believe they are growing on me. =)
ReplyDeleteGood post!
ReplyDeleteI love trivia like this, thanks for sharing! I wanna know which presidents haven't been featured- Clinton, Bush I and II, Carter? ...off to google. : )
ReplyDeleteVery interesting, thanks for posting. And I like the new Ronald Reagan stamps & will need to buy more soon.
ReplyDeleteYou were right Felicity! Carter, Bush Sr., Clinton, Bush Jr. and Obama have all not been featured. But my guess is they will have their own stamps soon enough.
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ReplyDeleteHere is a link that will show you all the different stamps featuring Presidents.
ReplyDeleteThank you for teaching us something new :)
ReplyDeleteI see I missed my history lessons while away. A wonderful valentine arrived for me which I will photo and show on a future post. Thanks so much. When I get myself organized being back, something marvelous will wend it's way to you. xox Corrine
ReplyDeleteYou did miss it..but not really. Isn't that the beauty of blogs? If you miss a day..you can always go back. So really you haven't missed anything. Great to have you back! And I look forward to seeing you in the mail soon!
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