Postage Stamps of the United States First Issued in 1861
Presidents: Jan.1-Mar.3: James Buchanan · Mar.4-Dec.31: Abraham Lincoln - Postmasters General: 1/1-2/11: Joseph Holt · 2/12-3/4: Horatio King · 3/5-12/31: M. Blair Admitted to the Union: Kansas on January 29, 1861 - Important Events in U.S. Postal History: The Pony Express officially quit delivering letters on Oct. 24, 1861, made obsolete by the completion of the trans-continental telegraph. From Nov. 1861 until the end of the year, the stamps of the 1851 issue were gradually demonetized by region. Domestic Letter Rate*: under 3000 mi. per 1/2 oz.: 3¢ - over 3000 mi. per 1/2 oz.: 10¢ - Prepayment compulsory, stamp required Foreign Letter Rate: under 2500 mi. per 1/2 oz.: 10¢ - over 2500 mi. per 1/2 oz.: 20¢ - except where otherwise adjusted by treaty Drop Letters: 1¢ - prepayment required after February 27 - Newspapers and Circulars up to 3 oz.: 1¢, with one added cent for each additional oz. Carrier Fee (not available in all cities): 1¢ - Registry Fee: 5¢ - no return receipt to sender - paid in cash - stamp not required * On May 1, 1861 the letter rate was 3¢ if it stayed East of the Rockies, and 10¢ if it crossed the Rockies, both regardless of distance, effectively eliminating the 3000 mi. distinction. This distinction was dropped as of July 1, 1863.
Designs of the Stamps of 1861-1868 - Printed by the National Bank Note Company
A Complete Guide to the 1861 Issue Stamps including Grills and Quantities Issued
Designs by James Macdonough - Frames by Cyrus Durand (intricate lathwork) and William D. Nichols - Lettering by Wm. Nichols and David M. Cooper
1¢ Franklin
Engraver: Joseph Pease2¢ Black Jackson
Engraver: Joseph Ourdan3¢ Rose Washington
Engraver: Joseph Pease5¢ Brown Jefferson
Engraver: William Marshall10¢ Washington
Engraver: William Marshall
12¢ Washington
Engraver: William Marshall15¢ Black Lincoln
Engraver: Joseph Ourdan24¢ Lilac Washington
Engraver: William Marshall30¢ Franklin
Engraver: Joseph P. Pease90¢ Washington
Engraver: Joseph P. PeaseThe examples shown are proofs of the 1861-1868 designs (move cursor over stamp for Scott number)
The following postage stamp varieties were first issued by the U.S. in 1861:
Ordinary issue:
See also: Designs of the 1851-1860 Regular Issues
Designs of 1851-1860 · Perforated 15.5 - Issued in 1861
Scott 18 - 1¢ Blue Franklin (Plate 12) - 1851 Design - Type I - EDU: Jan. 25, 1861
Scott 20 - 1¢ Blue Franklin (Plate 11) - 1851 Design - Type II - EDU: Jan. 12, 1861
1¢ Blue Franklin (Plate 12) - 1851 Design - Type II - EDU: Jan. 21, 1861
Scott 22 - 1¢ Blue Franklin (Plate 11) - 1851 Design - Type IIIa - EKU: Dec. ?, 1860
1¢ Blue Franklin (Plate 12) - 1851 Design - Type IIIa - EDU: Jan. 25, 1861
Scott 30 - 5¢ Orange to deep orange brown Jefferson - Type II - EDU: May 8, 1861 - about 570,000 issued
1c Franklin - 3c Washington - 5c Jefferson - 10c Washington - 12c Washington
Designs of 1861-1867 · No Grills · Perf 12
Scott 63 - 1¢ Blue Franklin - EDU: Aug. 17 (off cover); Aug. 21, 1861 (on cover) - about 138 million issued
Scott 63a - 1¢ Ultramarine Franklin
Scott 63b - 1¢ Dark Blue Franklin
Scott 64 - 3¢ Pink Washington - EDU: Aug. 17, 1861 (FDC) - about 100,000 issued
Scott 64a - 3¢ Pigeon Blood Pink - Washington EDU: Aug. 21, 1861
Scott 64b - 3¢ Rose Pink Washington - EDU: Aug. 17 (FDC), 1861
Scott 65 - 3¢ Rose Washington - EDU: Aug. 19, 1861 - about 1.8 billion issued
Scott 67 - 5¢ Buff Jefferson - EDU: Aug. 19, 1861 - about 175,000 issued
Scott 67a - 5¢ Brown Yellow Jefferson - EDU: Aug. 21, 1861
Scott 67b - 5¢ Olive Yellow Jefferson - EDU: Sep. 18, 1861
Scott 68 - 10¢ Yellow Green Washington - EDU: Aug. 20, 1861 - about 27 million issued
Scott 68a - 10¢ Dark Green Washington
Scott 69 - 12¢ Black Washington - EDU: Aug. 30, 1861 - about 7.3 million issued
The EDU of the 1861 24¢ is Scott 70c - see also: issues of 1862 for the red lilac Scott 70
Scott 70b - 24¢ Steel Blue Washington - EDU: Sep. 21, 1861
Scott 70c - 24¢ Violet Thin Paper Washington - EDU: Aug. 20, 1861
Scott 70d - 24¢ Thin Paper - Pale Gray Lilac Washington - EDU: Sep. 10, 1861
Scott 71 - 30¢ Orange Franklin - EDU: Aug. 20, 1861 - about 3.3 million issued
Scott 72 - 90¢ Blue Washington - EDU: Nov. 27, 1861 - about 388,700 issuedCommemoratives:
The first commemorative stamps were not issued until 1893 Special Delivery:
The first Special Delivery stamps were not issued until 1885 Postage Dues:
The first Postage Due stamps were not issued until 1879
