U.S. Newspaper and Periodical Stamps Designs of 1865

The Newspaper and Periodical Stamps Designs of 1865

The Newspaper and Periodical stamps of 1865 were designed and printed by the National Bank Note Company. Note that the images illustrated are proofs of the Continental Bank Note Company Reprints of 1875, which were printed using the National Bank Note Company plates. The National stamps were of different shades than the Continental stamps. Although the Continental 5¢ was nearly the same color as the National stamp, it is easily distinguished by its white border. The National 5¢ stamp had a border that matched the blue of the stamp, note the colored border on the 10¢ and 25¢ stamps for comparison. The 10¢ National was a green to bluish-green, but not as dark as the one illustrated, while the 25¢ National was an orange- to carmine- red, again not as dark as the stamp illustrated. An identification guide is provided below.

These are large designs, 51mm wide by 95mm high. All of these were printed on unwatermarked paper and perforated 12 on plates of 20 stamps, which were subsequently split into two panes of 10 stamps, before being sent to their respective Post Offices. Note that some of the 5¢ and 10¢ Continental Reprints were printed on both sides.

Five Cent Stamps of the 1865 Design (National Bank Note Company)

Scott PR1 - 1865 - Blue to Dark Blue - Colored Border - 5¢ Washington - Thin, hard paper - Without gum

Scott PR1a - Light Blue - Colored Border - 5¢ Washington - Thin, hard paper - Without gum

Scott PR4 - Light Blue - White Border - 5¢ Washington - Thin, hard paper - Without gum

Scott PR4a - Dark Blue - White Border - 5¢ Washington - Thin, hard paper - Without gum

Scott PR4b - Pelure paper - White Border - 5¢ Washington - Without gum

Scott PR5 - 1875 Continental Reprint - Dull Blue - White Border - 5¢ Washington - Hard white paper - Without gum

Scott PR8 - 1881 - Dark Blue - White Border - 5¢ Washington - American Bank Note Co. - Soft, porous paper - Without gum

Ten Cent Stamps of the 1865 Design (National Bank Note Company)

Scott PR2 - 1865 - Blue Green - Colored Border - 10¢ Franklin - Thin, hard paper - Without gum

Scott PR2a - Green - Colored Border - 10¢ Franklin - Thin, hard paper - Without gum

Scott PR2b - Pelure paper - Colored Border - 10¢ Franklin - Without gum

Scott PR6 - 1875 Continental Reprint - Dark Bluish Green - Colored Border - 10¢ Franklin - Hard white paper - Without gum

Twenty-five Cent Stamps of the 1865 Design (National Bank Note Company)

Scott PR3 - 1865 - Carmine red - Colored Border - 25¢ Lincoln - Thin, hard paper - Without gum

Scott PR3a - Orange red - Colored Border - 25¢ Lincoln - Thin, hard paper - Without gum

Scott PR3b - Pelure paper - Colored Border - 25¢ Lincoln - Thin, hard paper - Without gum

Scott PR7 - 1875 Continental Reprint - Blue Green - Colored Border - 25¢ Lincoln - Hard white paper - Without gum