rarepre-1900

United States Postage Stamp, Scott #1

Name: United States Postage Stamp, Scott #1
Brand: United States

United States · 1847 · 5¢

This is the first postage stamp issued by the United States federal government. The design features a portrait of Benjamin Franklin, the first Postmaster General, based on a drawing by James B. Longacre. The stamp's denomination is five cents, which covered the cost of mailing a standard letter up to 300 miles.

Issued in 1847 alongside the 10¢ Washington (Scott #2), this stamp marked the standardization of the U.S. postal system, replacing the varied and inconsistent local postmasters' provisionals.

Printing Method

Engraved

Themes

statesmen presidents founding-fathers postage

Catalog Numbers

scott1

Image: · License:

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Estimated Values by Condition

Superb(S)

Perfectly centered, fresh, no faults

$2,500

Extremely Fine(XF)

Well centered, fresh colors

$1,500

Very Fine(VF)

Nicely centered, minor flaws

$900

Fine(F)

Average centering, acceptable

$550

Good(G)

Off-center or visible wear

$250

Prices are approximate market estimates for educational purposes. Actual values depend on specific factors including cancel type, margins, and provenance.