Baltimore Postmaster Provisional

United States · 1845 · 5 cents

The stamp features a central portrait of George Washington, encircled by 'P. O. BALTIMORE' at the top and '5 CENTS' at the bottom, with 'PAID' on the left and 'JUL 1845' on the right.

This is a Postmaster Provisional stamp, issued by the Baltimore post office before the first general issue of U.S. federal postage stamps in 1847. It represents an early attempt to standardize postage payment at a local level.