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Official stamps

In the 1870s, government departments lost the franking privilege. Separate series of stamps were issued for each department's use. Except for the issues of the Post Office Department, which feature only numerals, the stamps were patterned on the then-current "banknote" issues.

1873 issues, Continental Bank Note Company

Printed on thin hard paper.

Agriculture Department

Offices of the Department of Agriculture were required to use these stamps on official mailings.

Scott O1S var, 1¢ Agriculture, specimen overprint on imperf proof, plate number 65

Scott O1Sb, 1¢ Agriculture, specimen overprint, misperfed in selvage, plate number 65

Scott O2, 2¢ Agriculture, plate number 64

Scott O2S, 2¢ Agriculture, specimen overprint, plate number 64

Scott O2P3, 2¢ Agriculture proof on india paper, plate number 64

Scott O3, 3¢ Agriculture, soft paper, plate number 57

Scott O3S var, 3¢ Agriculture, specimen overprint on imperf proof, plate number 57

Scott O4S var, 6¢ Agriculture, specimen overprint on imperf proof, plate number 72

Scott O5S var, 10¢ Agriculture, specimen overprint on imperf proof, plate number 114

Scott O6S var, 12¢ Agriculture, specimen overprint on imperf proof, plate number 73

Scott O7S var, 15¢ Agriculture, specimen overprint on imperf proof, plate number 105

Scott O7S var, 30¢ Agriculture, specimen overprint on imperf proof, plate number 100

In 1879, the American Bank Note Company reprinted the 1¢ and 3¢ denominations on soft porous paper.

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This page last updated September 3, 2017.