Benjamin Franklin, 1c Blue, Imperforate

United States · 1851 · 1¢

This stamp features a right-facing portrait of Benjamin Franklin, one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. The design is based on a bust by French sculptor Jean-Jacques Caffieri. As one of the first regular issue stamps of the United States, it was printed in various shades of blue and is notable for its imperforate edges, requiring stamps to be cut from the sheet by hand.

Issued in 1851, this was part of the second series of U.S. postage stamps, which reduced postal rates to encourage more widespread use of the mail system. This 1¢ stamp was primarily used for drop letters and circulars.