1869 Continental Banknote Co. Stamp Essays

United States · 1869 · Various (1¢, 2¢, 3¢, 6¢)

This image displays four different stamp essays by the Continental Banknote Company, each featuring a portrait of a prominent U.S. historical figure (George Washington, Andrew Jackson, Abraham Lincoln) within an ornate frame, with denominations of 1, 2, 3, and 6 cents.

These are unadopted stamp essays submitted by the Continental Banknote Company in 1869 as part of a competition for the new series of U.S. definitive stamps, following the demonetization of the 1861 series. They represent significant historical artifacts from a pivotal period in U.S. postal design.