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.
Treasury Department
Offices of the Treasury Department were required to use these stamps on
official mailings.
Scott O72,
1¢ Treasury Department,
plate number 44 (Image courtesy of Wallace Cleland)
Scott O72S var,
1¢ Treasury, specimen overprint on imperf proof, plate number 44
Scott O73,
2¢ Treasury Department,
pair with plate number 42
Scott O73S var,
2¢ Treasury, specimen overprint on imperf proof, plate number (4)2
Scott O74,
3¢ Treasury Department,
pair with plate number 33
Scott O75, 6¢ Treasury Department,
plate number 51
Scott O75S var,
6¢ Treasury, specimen overprint on imperf proof, plate number 51
Scott O76S var,
7¢ Treasury, specimen overprint on imperf proof, plate number 103
Scott O77,
10¢ Treasury Department,
plate number 58
Scott O77S var,
10¢ Treasury, specimen overprint on imperf proof, plate number 58
Scott O78,
12¢ Treasury Department,
plate number 46
Scott O78S var,
12¢ Treasury, specimen overprint on imperf proof, plate number 46
Scott O79,
15¢ Treasury Department,
plate number 84
Scott O79S var,
15¢ Treasury, specimen overprint on imperf proof, plate number 84
Scott O80S var,
24¢ Treasury, specimen overprint on imperf proof, plate number (1)34
This specimen may be the only known plate number example. None have been reported for the issued stamp.
Scott O81S var,
30¢ Treasury, specimen overprint on imperf proof, plate number 69
Scott O82,
90¢ Treasury Department,
plate number 61
Scott O82P3,
90¢ Treasury Department proof on
india paper, plate number 61
The '1' was originally engraved where the '6' now appears.
Scott O82S var,
90¢ Treasury, specimen overprint on imperf proof, plate number 61
In 1879, the American Bank Note Company reprinted the 3¢, 6¢, 10¢, 30¢ and 90¢ denominations on soft porous paper.
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This page last updated September 8,
2017.
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