New Haven, Connecticut Postmaster Provisional

United States · 1845 · 5¢

The stamp features a central oval portrait of George Washington, facing left, within a rectangular frame. 'NEW HAVEN' is inscribed above, 'CONN.' below, and '5 CENTS' at the bottom.

Issued in 1845 by the New Haven postmaster, this stamp is a Postmaster Provisional, predating the first general issue of US stamps. It allowed for the prepayment of postage locally before national stamps were available.