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Designs of the U.S. Regular Issues of 1851-1860
  Printed in sheets of 200 subjects with two side-by-side 10 x 10 panes of 100 stamps (except the 5¢ in which the 2 panes were vertical)

  1¢ Franklin of 1851-1861  

Engravers:   Vignette: Joseph I. Pease     Frame and Lettering: Henry Earle   
Year Scott EDU No. Issued* Perf Printer Color - Plates Type Design Size Usage
1851 5 7/5/1851 ~35,000 None TCC* blue - plate 1E I 20 x 26 mm The one cent stamp paid the rate 
for drop letters and circulars.
1851 5A 7/1/51(FD) ~210,000 None TCC   blue - plate 1E Ib see note below 
1857 6 4/19/1857 ~110,000 None TCC   blue - bottom row of plate 4 Ia --------   
--- 6b 5/20/1857 ~60,000 None TCC   blue - plate 4 Ic --------    Special Printings: The following information applies to all of the 1851 reprints. The Special Printings were issued to showcase a complete set of the U.S. issues for the first World's Fair officially held in the U.S., at the Centennial International Exposition of 1876 in Philadelphia and also to pro-
vide stamps for collectors and others to satisfy numerous requests. While "Reissued" stamps were valid for postage, "reprints" were not, since the series was demonetized in 1861.All of the 1851 reprints are easily identifiable by their gauge 12 perforations versus the gauge 15 of the regularly issued stamps. The one cent reprint is easily identifiable by its bright blue color.
1851 7 7/1/51(FD) ~12,300,000 None TCC   blue - plates 1E, 2, 3 and 4 II --------   
1857 8 7/7/1857 ------- None TCC   blue - plate 4 and pos. 99R2 III --------   
1851 8A 7/3/1851  ~650,000 None TCC   blue - 1E, 2 and 4 IIIa --------   
1852 9 6/5/1852 ------- None TCC   blue - plate 1L (recuts) IV --------   
1861 18 1/25/1861 ------- 15.5 TCC   blue - plate 12 I 20 x 26 mm
1857 19 9/9/1857 ~300,000 15.5 TCC   blue - plate 4 Ia --------   
--- 19b --- ~150,000 15.5 TCC   blue - plate 4 Ic --------   
1857 20 7/26/1857 ------- 15.5 TCC   blue - plates 2, 4, 11 and 12 II --------   
1857 21 9/18/1857 ~3,500 15.5 TCC   blue - plate 4 and pos. 99R2 III --------   
1857 22 7/26/1857 ------- 15.5 TCC   blue - plates 4, 11 and 12 IIIa --------   
1857 23 7/25/1857 ------- 15.5 TCC   blue - plate 1L (recuts) IV --------   
1857 24 11/17/1857 ~50 million 15.5 TCC   blue - plates 5, 7, 8, 9, 10 V --------   
1857 24 --- ~200,000 15.5 TCC   blue - plate 5 Va --------   
1875 40 n/a 3846 12 - Continental bright blue - reprint I 20 x 26 mm
  3¢ Washington of 1851-1861

Vignette: Joseph I. Pease     Frame (geometric lathe): Cyrus Durand    Lettering: Henry Earle  
Year Scott EDU No. Issued Perf Printer Color - Plates Type Design Size Usage
1851 10 7/1/51(FD) est. 20 million None TCC orange brown; plates 1E;1i I 20 x 25 mm The three cent stamp paid the 
single letter rate for letters 
traveling less than 3000 miles, 
which is essentially the entire 
U.S. except letters traveling 
from the East to West coasts. 
The fee for coast-to-coast 
mail was 6¢ and it is perhaps 
odd that no 6¢ stamp was 
issued, although there was a 6¢ stamped envelope. This fee was 
often paid using two 3¢ stamps.
1851 10A 7/1/51(FD) None TCC orange brown;1E, 1i, 2E, 5E, 0 II 20 x 25 mm
1855 11 3/28/1855 ~ 340 million stamps were issued that would now be assigned as Scott 11/ Scott 11A  None TCC dull red;  claret; rose red; orange red; plum; brownish carmine;
deep claret; pinkish; 
plates 4, 6, 7, 8		 I 20 x 25 mm
1857 11A 10/6/1851 None TCC dull red; brownish carmine; claret; rose red; orange red; experimental orange;  
plates 1L, 2L, 3, 5L		 II 20 x 25 mm
1857 25 2/28/1857 ~39 million 15.5 TCC rose; rose red, claret, dull red; plates 4, 6, 7, 8 I 20 x 25 mm
1857 25A 4/15/1857 15.5 TCC rose; rose red, claret, dull red; plates 2L, 3, 5L II 20 x 25 mm
1857 26 9/14/1857 ~550 million 15.5 TCC dull red, red, rose, brownish carmine, claret, orange brown, plum; plates 9, 12-28 III 20 x 25 mm
1857 26A 7/11/1857 ~33 million 15.5 TCC dull red, rose, brownish carmine; claret; plates 10, 11 IV 20 x 25 mm The 3¢ reprint was never valid for postage. It is easily identifiable by its gauge 12 perforations and its scarlet color. Special Printings
1875 41 --- 479 12 - Continental scarlet - reprint I 20 x 25 mm
  5¢ Jefferson of 1856-1859 Type I  

Vignette: Joseph I. Pease     Frame (geometric lathe): Cyrus Durand    Lettering: Henry Earle  
Year Scott EDU No. Issued Perf Printer Color Type Design Size Usage
1856 12 3/24/1856 ~150,000 None TCC red to dark red brown I 19.5 x 25.5 mm Early use of the 5¢ stamp saw greatest use as prepayment of the 5¢ open mail rate. It also saw heavy usage as a make-up rate stamp, for example to pay the 15¢ rate to France or doubled to pay the 10¢ rate. Single usages of the 5¢ stamp on cover are rare.
1858 27 10/6/1858 ~135,000 15.5 TCC brick red I 19.5 x 25.5 mm
1857 28 8/23/1857 ~270,000 15.5 TCC red brown I 19.5 x 25.5 mm
1857 28b --- 15.5 TCC bright red brown I 19.5 x 25.5 mm
1858 28A 3/31/1858 <50,000 15.5 TCC indian red I 19.5 x 25.5 mm
1859 29 3/21/1859 ~510,000 15.5 TCC pale to deep brown, 
yellow brown		 I 19.5 x 25.5 mm
 5¢ Jefferson of 1860-1861 Type II

Vignette: Joseph I. Pease     Frame (geometric lathe): Cyrus Durand    Lettering: Henry Earle  
Year Scott EDU No. Issued Perf Printer Color Type Design Size Purpose
1861 30 5/8/1861 ~570,000 15.5 TCC orange to deep orange brown II see note 
below 		 This variety of the 5¢ stamp came about as an attempt to make the complete design fit vertically between the perforations by cutting away 
some or all of the projections at top and bottom.  Note that there is a gradation from partially to fully removed projections. All are to 
be considered as type II.
1860 30A 5/4/1860 ~825,000 15.5 TCC yellow brown to brown to dark brown II
1875 42 n/a 878 12 - Continental orange brown - reprint II The 5¢ reprint was issued as part of a set of Special Printings
  10¢ Washington of 1855-1861

Vignette: Joseph I. Pease     Frame: Henry Earle   Lettering: Henry Earle  
Year Scott EDU No. Issued Perf Printer Color Type Design Size Usage
1855 13 7/11/1855 ~500,000 None TCC yellowish green to dark green I 19 x 24.25 mm The 10¢ stamp was used primarily 
to pay the postage on letters that traveled coast to coast. 
1855 14 5/12/1855 ~2,300,000 None TCC yellowish green to dark green II see note below 
1855 15 5/19/1855 ~2,000,000 None TCC yellowish green to dark green III --------   
1855 16 6/4/1855 ~200,000 None TCC yellowish green to dark green  IV --------   
1857 31 8/25/1857 ~600,000 15.5 TCC yellow- to blue- to dark green  I 19 x 24.25 mm
1857 32 7/27/1857 ~2,900,000 15.5 TCC yellow- to blue- to dark green  II see note below 
1857 33 8/8/1857 ~2,400,000 15.5 TCC yellow- to blue- to dark green  III --------   
1857 34 10/5/1857 ~240,000 15.5 TCC yellow- to blue- to dark green  IV --------    The 10¢ reprint was issued as part of a set of Special Printings.
1859 35 4/29/1859 ~12,000,000 15.5 TCC yellow- to dark green; 2nd plate V --------   
1875 43 n/a 516 12 - Continental blue green - reprint I 19 x 24.25 mm
 12¢ Washington of 1851-1861 

Vignette: Joseph I. Pease     Frame (geometric lathe): Cyrus Durand    Lettering: Henry Earle  
Year Scott EDU No. Issued Perf Printer Color Type Design Size Usage
1851 17 8/4/1851 ~2,500,000 None TCC gray black to intense black plate I 20 x 25 mm The 12¢ was used primarily to pay 
the postage on heavy letters and for foreign destinations. A very common usage was to Great Britain, where 
two 12¢ stamps paid the 24¢ rate.
1857 36 7/30/1857 ~3,000,000 15.5 TCC gray black to black plate I 20 x 25 mm
1859 36B 6/1/1860 ~2,800,000 15.5 TCC black to intense black plate 3 20 x 25 mm
1875 44 n/a 489 12 - Continental greenish black - reprint ---- 20 x 25 mm The 12¢ reprint was issued as part of a set of Special Printings.
  24¢ Washington of 1860-1861  

Vignette: Joseph I. Pease     Frame (geometric lathe): Cyrus Durand    Lettering: Henry Earle  
Year Scott EDU No. Issued Perf Printer Color Type Design Size Usage
1860 37 7/7/1860 740,000 15.5 TCC gray lilac to red  lilac ---- 19.25 x 25 mm The 24¢ stamp saw common usage on letters to Great Britain. It was 
also used in combination with other 
stamps to make up a higher rate..
--- 37a --- 15.5 TCC gray ---- 19.25 x 25 mm
1875 45 n/a 479 12 - Continental blackish violet - reprint ---- 19.25 x 25 mm The 24¢ reprint was issued as part of a set of Special Printings.
  30¢ Franklin of 1860-1861

Vignette: Joseph I. Pease     Frame: Henry Earle   Lettering: Henry Earle  
Year Scott EDU No. Issued Perf Printer Color Type Design Size Usage
1860 38 8/8/1860 360,000 15.5 TCC yellow orange to red orange ---- 20 x 25 mm The 30¢ stamp saw usage on 
letters to Europe and other foreign destinations. Germany, France and Italy and their states were common destinations. The stamp was 
also used in combination with other 
stamps to make up a higher rate.
1875 46 n/a 480 12 - Continental yellow orange - reprint ---- 20 x 25 mm The 30¢ reprint was issued as part of a set of Special Printings.
   90¢ Washington of 1860-1861

Vignette: Joseph I. Pease     Frame: Henry Earle   Lettering: Henry Earle   
Year Scott EDU No. Issued Perf Printer Color Type Design Size Usage
1860 39 9/11/1860 25,000 15.5 TCC blue to deep blue ---- 19 x 24.5 mm There are only 6 recorded 90¢ 1860 covers, all but one to foreign destinations. The domestic, solo usage was for a multiple weight  legal-size cover addressed to a courthouse whose contents probably were depositions. The stamp was also used in combination with other stamps to make up a higher rate.
1875 47  n/a 454 12 - Continental deep blue - reprint ---- 19 x 24.5 mm The 90¢ reprint was issued as part of a set of Special Printings.

 


Notes: The Scott 10 and 11 quantity issued are based on an estimated 360,000,000 stamps printed, with the vast majority being Scott 11. The best way to determine whether a stamp is a Scott 10 or a Scott 11 is to determine which plate it was printed on. While it is true that most Scott 10's are a shade of orange brown, it is not the color that determines the Scott number, it is the plate. Scott 10 was printed on plate 0, the early and intermediate plate 1 and the early plates of plate 2 and plate 5. Scott 11 was printed on the late plates of plates 1, 2 and 5, as well as plates 3, 4, 6, 7 and 8. 

Design Size: Since part of the design was cut away on the 1¢, 5¢, 10¢ stamps design sizes are not meaningful.

Quantity issued: Estimates are based on available information primarily from Brookman, "The United States Postage Stamps of the 19th Century- Volume I", "Linn's U.S. Stamp Facts 19th Century", published by Linn's Stamp News and Chase's "The Three Cent Stamp of the United States 1851-1857- Revised". These numbers are simply estimates based on the best information available and are subject to revision. Please report any updates or corrections via email.


Special Printings: The following information applies to all of the 1851 reprints. The Special Printings were issued to showcase a complete set of the U.S. issues for the first World's Fair officially held in the U.S., at the Centennial International Exposition of 1876 in Philadelphia and also to provide stamps for collectors and others to satisfy numerous requests. While "Reissued" stamps were valid for postage, "reprints" were not, since the series was demonetized in 1861.All of the 1851 reprints are easily identifiable by their gauge 12 perforations versus the gauge 15 of the regularly issued stamps. 
Bibliography and suggested additional reading:

Basic Information: 
The Postage Stamps of the 19th Century, Volume 1, by Lester Brookman (1966)
The 1851 Issue of United States Stamps - a Sesquicentennial  Retrospective, Hubert Skinner and Charles Peterson editors (USPCS 2006)
The 2009 Scott U.S. Specialized Stamp Catalogue (Amos Press 2008)
United States Letter Rates to Foreign Destinations 1847 to GPU-UPU, by Charles J. Starnes 
The United States One Cent Stamp of 1851-1857, by Stanley Ashbrook 2 volumes (1938)
The United States One Cent Stamp of 1851-1861, by Mortimer Neinken (1972)
The Three Cent Stamp of the United States 1851-1857 Issue, by Dr. Carroll Chase (Quarterman Reprint 1975)
The United States 3c Issue of 1851-1861: A Progress Report, by Thomas J. Alexander (39th American Philatelic Congress 1973)
The U.S. Five Cent Stamp of 1856: The Frederick R. Mayer Collection, by Richard C. Frajola & Frederick R. Mayer (2005)
The United States 5c Stamps of 1856-1861, by Henry Hill
The United States Ten Cent Stamp of 1855-1857, by Stanley Ashbrook (1936)
The United States Ten Cent Stamp of 1855-1859, by Mortimer Neinken (1960)
United States Twelve Cent Stamp of 1851-1857, by Stanley Ashbrook (1926)
The United States Twelve Cent Stamp of 1851-1857, by Mortimer Neinken (1964)
 Plate Varieties of the United States Twenty-four Cent 1860, by Elliott Perry (17th American Philatelic Congress 1951)
The United States Ninety Cent Stamp of 1860 On and Off Cover, by Stanley Ashbrook (17th American Philatelic Congress 1951)

Design dimensions:
The Postage Stamps of the United States, John Luff  (1902 and 1937)

Colors:
The Encyclopedia of the Colors of United States Postage Stamps - Volume 1 Issues of 1847-1868, by Roy H. White (1981)

Postal History:
United States Letter Rates to Foreign Destinations 1847 to GPU-UPU, by Charles J. Starnes
The U.S. Five Cent Stamp of 1856: The Frederick R. Mayer Collection, by Richard C. Frajola & Frederick R. Mayer (2005)
History of Letter Post Communication between the United States and Europe, by George E. Hargest

Plating: Notes on the plating of the 10¢ stamp were published by Elliott Perry in the Collector's Club Philatelist from 1924-1926. Perry's plating of this stamp is considered one of the great milestones in the hobby.

Websites of interest to the 1851 collector: 
 The Collectors Club Philatelist at www.collectorsclub.org.
 The Chronicle of the U.S. Classic Postal Issues at www.uspcs.org
The 1¢ Franklin Plating Archive · by Richard Doporto
1851-61 1¢ Issue Identifier  · from the Ask Phil Resource Library
 1851 One-Cent Franklin · Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries, Inc. 
The 3¢ Stamp of 1851-56 · Dr. Charles J. Di Como and the U.S. Philatelic Classics Society, Inc
A Plating of the 3¢ Stamp of 1851-56 · by Steven Ruecker
The US 5¢ stamp of 1856 · by Frederick R. Mayer
The Five Cent Jefferson Stamp 1856-1861 · by  John P. Zuckerman and the U.S. Philatelic Classics Society, Inc.
The 10-cent Washington of 1851-1861 · Arago, Alexander T. Haimann, National Postal Museum 
 1851 Twelve-Cent Washington · Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries, Inc. 

 

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