United States 1847 5c Red Brown Benjamin Franklin

United States · 1847 · 5c

This stamp features a portrait of Benjamin Franklin, one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. The design is based on a drawing by James B. Longacre. As one of the first two federally issued postage stamps in the U.S., it marks a pivotal moment in the nation's postal history.

Issued in 1847, this was the first general issue postage stamp authorized by the U.S. federal government, intended to standardize and prepay mail rates across the country.