Click on underlined Catalog Numbers below to see more details.
1¢ Franklin of 1861-1868
Designer: James Macdonough Vignette: Joseph I. Pease
Frame (geometric lathe): Cyrus Durand Lettering: D. M. Cooper
Year | Number | EDU | No. Issued | Perf | Printer | Color/Varieties | Grill | Design Size | Usage/Rates | |
1861 | 63-E11e | n/a | 1¢ Indigo Essay - The 1¢ "August" or "Premiere Gravure" Essay (see below) | Essay Stamp | ||||||
1861 | 63 | 8/17/1861 | 138,000,000 | 12 | National | pale to bright blue | none | 19½ x 25 mm |
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--- | 63a | --- | --- | 12 | National | ultramarine | none | 19½ x 25 mm | ||
--- | 63b | --- | --- | 12 | National | dark blue | none | 19½ x 25 mm | ||
--- | 63c | --- | --- | 12 | National | laid paper | none | 19½ x 25 mm | ||
--- | 63d | --- | --- | 12 | National | vertical pair imperf. horiz. | none | 19½ x 25 mm | ||
--- | 63e | --- | --- | 12 | National | printed on both sides, reverse inverted | none | 19½ x 25 mm | ||
1868 | 85A | n/a | ~1000 ( 2 known) | 12 | National | blue | Z | 19½ x 25 mm | ||
1868 | 86 | 3/9/1868 | ~3,000,000 | 12 | National | double grill; split grill; very thin paper | E | 19½ x 25 mm | ||
--- | 86a | --- | --- | 12 | National | dull blue | E | 19½ x 25 mm | ||
1868 | 92 | 8/11/1868 | ~7,000,000 | 12 | National | double transfer; split grill; thin paper | F | 19½ x 25 mm | ||
--- | 92a | --- | --- | 12 | National | pale blue | F | 19½ x 25 mm | ||
1875 | 102 | 7/25/1881 | 3195 | 12 | National | heavy ultramarine (Brookman) | none | 19½ x 25 mm | Special Printing |
2¢ Jackson of 1863-1868
Designer: James Macdonough Vignette: Joseph Prosper Ourdan
Frame: Wm. D. Nichols Lettering: Wm. D. Nichols
Year | Number | EDU | No. Issued | Perf | Printer | Color/Varieties | Grill | Design Size (mm) | Usage/Rates | |
1863 | 73 | 7/1/1863 off cover |
256,566,000 | 12 | National | gray black to intense black double transfers; cracked plate Scott 73 2¢ listed bisects |
none | 20½ x 24½ |
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--- | 73f | --- | --- | 12 | National | printed on both sides | none | 20½ x 24½ | ||
--- | 73g | --- | --- | 12 | National | laid paper | none | 20½ x 24½ | ||
1868 | 84 | 2/15/1868 | <200,000 | 12 | National | black; double transfer; split grill | D | 20½ x 24½ | ||
1868 | 84B | 1/17/1868 | 500,000 | 12 | National | black; double transfer; double grill | Z | 20½ x 24½ | ||
1868 | 87 | 3/7/1868 | ~25,000,000 | 12 | National | gray black to intense black double grill; grill with points up double transfer; Scott 87 2¢ listed bisects |
E | 20½ x 24½ | ||
1868 | 93 | 3/27/1868 | ~50,000,000 | 12 | National | gray black to black double grill; thin paper; double transfer Scott 93 2¢ listed bisects |
F | 20½ x 24½ | ||
1875 | 103 | n/a | 979 | 12 | National | jet black (Brookman) | none | 20½ x 24½ | Special Printing |
3¢ Washington of 1861-1868
Designer: James Macdonough Vignette: Joseph I. Pease
Frame (geometric lathe): Cyrus Durand Lettering: Wm. D. Nichols
Year | Number | EDU | No. Issued | Perf | Printer | Color/Varieties | Grill | Design Size | Usage/Rates |
1861 | 65-E15h | n/a | 3¢ Brown Rose Essay - The 3¢ "August" or "Premiere Gravure" Essay | Essay stamp | |||||
1861 | 64 | 8/17/1861 | ~ 100,000 | 12 | National | pink | none | 20 x 25 mm | Three cents was the domestic First-Class letter rate. This stamp was the workhorse stamp of the Series of 1861. |
1861 | 64a | 8/21/1861 | --- | 12 | National | pigeon blood pink | none | 20 x 25 mm | |
1861 | 64b | 8/17/1861 | --- | 12 | National | rose pink | none | 20 x 25 mm | |
1861 | 65 | 8/19/1861 | ~1.8 billion | 12 | National | rose - double transfer; cracked plate | none | 20 x 25 mm | |
--- | 65b | --- | --- | 12 | National | laid paper | none | 20 x 25 mm | |
--- | 65d | --- | --- | 12 | National | vertical pair imperforate horizontal | none | 20 x 25 mm | |
--- | 65e | --- | --- | 12 | National | printed on both sides, reverse inverted | none | 20 x 25 mm | |
--- | 65f | --- | --- | 12 | National | double impression | none | 20 x 25 mm | |
1867 | 79 | 8/13/1867 | ~50,000 | 12 | National | rose | A | 20 x 25 mm | |
--- | 79b | --- | --- | 12 | National | printed on both sides | A | 20 x 25 mm | |
1869 | 82 | 2/1?/1869 | ~1000 (4 known) | 12 | National | rose | B | 20 x 25 mm | |
1867 | 83 | 11/16/1867 | ~300,000 | 12 | National | rose - double grill | C | 20 x 25 mm | |
1868 | 85 | 2/1/1868 | 500,000 | 12 | National | rose - double grill; split grill | D | 20 x 25 mm | |
1868 | 85C | 2/12/1868 | ~100,000 | 12 | National | rose - double grill | Z | 20 x 25 mm | |
1868 | 88 | 2/12/1868 | ~80,000,000 | 12 | National | pale rose to rose red double grill; thin paper |
E | 20 x 25 mm | |
1868 | 88a | --- | --- | 12 | National | lake red | E | 20 x 25 mm | |
--- | 88b | --- | --- | 12 | National | two bisects on one cover | E | 20 x 25 mm | |
1868 | 94 | 3/21/1868 | ~225,000,000 | 12 | National | Scott 94: Red - Scott 94a: Rose double transfers; very thin paper multiple/split grill varieties |
F | 20 x 25 mm | |
1868 | 94a | --- | 12 | National | F | 20 x 25 mm | |||
--- | 94c | --- | --- | 12 | National | vertical pair imperforate horizontal | F | 20 x 25 mm | |
--- | 94d | --- | --- | 12 | National | printed on both sides | F | 20 x 25 mm | |
--- | 66TC | n/a | --- | 12 | National | lake - trial color | none | 20 x 25 mm | not regularly issued |
--- | 74TC | n/a | --- | 12 | National | scarlet - trial color | none | 20 x 25 mm | not regularly issued |
1875 | 104 | July 1883 | 465 | 12 | National | brown red (unique to the reissue) | none | 20 x 25 mm | Special Printing |
5¢ Jefferson of 1861-1868
Designer: James Macdonough Vignette: Wm. E. Marshall
Frame (geometric lathe): Cyrus Durand Lettering: Wm. D. Nichols
Year | Number | EDU | No. Issued | Perf | Printer | Color/Varieties | Grill | Design Size | Usage/Rates |
1861 | 67-E9e | n/a | 5¢ Brown Essay - The 5¢ "August" or "Premiere Gravure" Essay (see below) | Essay Stamp | |||||
1861 | 67 | 8/19/1861 | 175,000 | 12 | National | buff | none | 20½ x 25¼mm | The 5¢ stamp was most often used in multiples or in combination with other stamps on mail to foreign destinations. Solo usages exist to many foreign destinations, often to India, but also to Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, the Bahamas, Holland, and Spain. There was no domestic 5¢ rate. |
1862 | 67a | 8/21/1861 | --- | 12 | National | brown yellow | none | 20½ x 25¼mm | |
1862 | 67b | --- | --- | 12 | National | olive yellow | none | 20½ x 25¼mm | |
1862 | 75 | 1/2/1862 | 1,000,000 | 12 | National | red to dark red brown; double transfer | none | 20½ x 25¼mm | |
1863 | 76 | 2/3/1863 | 6,500,000 | 12 | National | pale to dark brown - double transfer | none | 20½ x 25¼mm | |
1863 | 76a | --- | --- | 12 | National | black brown | none | 20½ x 25¼mm | |
--- | 76b | --- | --- | 12 | National | laid paper | none | 20½ x 25¼mm | |
1867 | 80 | --- | ~2000 (6 known) |
12 | National | brown | A | 20½ x 25¼mm | |
1867 | 80a | --- | 12 | National | dark brown | A | 20½ x 25¼mm | ||
1868 | 95 | 8/19/1868 | ~680,000 | 12 | National | brown; 95/95a is known with double transfer; double grill; thin paper | F | 20½ x 25¼mm | |
1868 | 95a | --- | 12 | National | black brown | F | 20½ x 25¼mm | ||
1875 | 105 | n/a | 672 | 12 | National | light yellowish brown (Brookman) | none | 20½ x 25¼mm | Special Printing |
10¢ Washington of 1861-1868
Designer: James Macdonough Vignette: Wm. E. Marshall
Frame: Wm. D. Nichols Lettering: Wm. D. Nichols
Year | Number | EDU | No. Issued | Perf | Printer | Color/Varieties | Grill | Design Size (mm) | Usage/Rates |
1861 | 62B | 9/17/1861 | 500,000 | 12 | National | dark green to dark yellow green | none | 20½ x 24¼ | Essay stamp known legitimately used |
1861 | 68 | 8/20/1861 | 27,300,000 | 12 | National | green to deep yellow green double transfer |
none | 20½ x 24¼ | The 10¢ stamp paid the rate to many foreign destinations and saw use on trans-continental mail. |
1861 | 68a | n/a | --- | 12 | National | dark green; blue green | none | 20½ x 24¼ | |
--- | 68b | --- | --- | 12 | National | vertical pair imperforate horizontal | none | 20½ x 24¼ | |
1868 | 85D | --- | ~2000 (5 known) | 12 | National | green | Z | 20½ x 24¼ | |
1868 | 89 | 2/21/1868 | ~1,500,000 | 12 | National | green to dark green; blue green double grill; double transfer; thin paper |
E | 20½ x 24¼ | |
1868 | 96 | 5/28/1868 | ~3,800,000 | 12 | National | yellow green; dark green double transfer; various grills; thin paper |
F | 20½ x 24¼ | |
1875 | 106 | n/a | 451 | 12 | National | blue green (Brookman) | none | 20½ x 24¼ | Special Printing |
12¢ Washington of 1861-1868
Designer: James Macdonough Vignette: Wm. E. Marshall
Frame (geometric lathe): Cyrus Durand Lettering: Wm. D. Nichols
Year | Number | EDU | No. Issued | Perf | Printer | Color/Varieties | Grill | Design Size (mm) | Usage/Rates |
1861 | 69-E6e | n/a | 12¢ Black Essay - The 12¢ "August" or "Premiere Gravure" Essay (see below) | Essay Stamp | |||||
1861 | 69 | 8/30/1861 | 7,314,000 | 12 | National | gray black to intense black double transfer |
none | 19½ x 24½ | Solo usage was primarily for mail bound to England (from Jan. 1868 to Jan. 1870) and territorial use to Hawaii. It paid four times the domestic rate and was commonly used in combination with other stamps to pay a higher rate. |
1868 | 85E | 2/12/1868 | ~100,000 | 12 | National | intense black; double transfer | Z | 19½ x 24½ | |
1868 | 90 | 3/3/1868 | ~1,000,000 | 12 | National | gray black to black to intense black; double transfer; double grill | E | 19½ x 24½ | |
1868 | 97 | 5/27/1868 | ~2,600,000 | 12 | National | gray black to black double transfer; various grills; thin paper |
F | 19½ x 24½ | |
1875 | 107 | n/a | 389 | 12 | National | deep black (Brookman) | none | 19½ x 24½ | Special Printing |
15¢ Lincoln of 1866-1868
Designer: James Macdonough Vignette: Joseph P. Ourdan
Frame: Wm. D. Nichols Lettering: Wm. D. Nichols
Year | Number | EDU | No. Issued | Perf | Printer | Color/Varieties | Grill | Design Size (mm) | Usage/Rates |
1866 | 77 | 4/21/1866 | 2,139,000 | 12 | National | black to deep black cracked plate; double transfer |
none | 19¼ x 23¾ | The 15¢ stamp was used to pay the rate to France and Germany. After Jan. 1, 1869, the registry fee was 15¢, and this stamp was used in combination with the 3¢ stamp paying the regular postage and registration fee. |
1868 | 85F | --- | ~1000 (2 known) |
12 | National | black | Z | 19¼ x 23¾ | |
1868 | 91 | 5/2/1868 | ~500,000 | 12 | National | gray black to black double grill; split grill |
E | 19¼ x 23¾ | |
1868 | 98 | 5/4/1868 | ~2,000,000 | 12 | National | gray black to black double transfer; double grill; thin paper |
F | 19¼ x 23¾ | |
1875 | 108 | n/a | 397 | 12 | National | deep black (Brookman) | none | 19¼ x 23¾ | Special Printing |
24¢ Red Lilac Washington
Designer: James Macdonough Vignette: Wm. E. Marshall
Frame (geometric lathe): Cyrus Durand Lettering: Wm. D. Nichols
Year | Number | EDU | No. Issued | Perf | Printer | Color/Varieties | Grill | Design Size | Usage/Rates |
1861 | 70eTC | n/a | 24¢ Dark Violet - The 24¢ "August" or "Premiere Gravure" (see below) | Trial Color Stamp | |||||
1861 | 70 | 1/7/1862 | ~400,000 for all Scott 70 |
12 | National | red lilac | none | 19½ x 24 mm | The treaty rate for mail bound to England from Feb. 1849 to Jan. 1868 was 24¢ |
1862 | 70a | 2/5/1862 | 12 | National | brown lilac | none | 19½ x 24 mm | ||
1862 | 70b | 9/21/1861 | 12 | National | steel blue | none | 19½ x 24 mm | ||
1862 | 70c | 8/20/1861 | 12 | National | violet on thin paper | none | 19½ x 24 mm | ||
1862 | 70d | 9/10/1861 | 12 | National | pale gray violet | none | 19½ x 24 mm |
24¢ Lilac (Gray) Washington
Designer: James Macdonough Vignette: Wm. E. Marshall
Frame (geometric lathe): Cyrus Durand Lettering: Wm. D. Nichols
Year | Number | EDU | No. Issued | Perf | Printer | Color/Varieties | Grill | Design Size | Usage/Rates |
1862 | 78 | --- | about 9,620,000 for all Scott 78 |
12 | National | lilac to dark lilac | none | 19½ x 24 mm | The treaty rate for mail bound to England from Feb. 1849 to Jan. 1868 was 24¢ |
1862 | 78a | 10/23/1862 | 12 | National | grayish lilac | none | 19½ x 24 mm | ||
--- | 78b | --- | 12 | National | gray | none | 19½ x 24 mm | ||
--- | 78c | 5/1/1863 | 12 | National | blackish violet | none | 19½ x 24 mm | ||
--- | 78d | --- | 12 | National | printed on both sides - reverse inverted | none | 19½ x 24 mm | ||
1868 | 99 | 1/5/1869 | ~200,000 | 12 | National | gray lilac to full gray; double grill | F | 19½ x 24 mm | |
1875 | 109 | n/a | 346 | 12 | National | deep violet | none | 19½ x 24 mm | Special Printing |
30¢ Franklin of 1861-1867
Designer: James Macdonough Vignette: Joseph I. Pease
Frame: Wm. D. Nichols Lettering: Wm. D. Nichols
Year | Number | EDU | No. Issued | Perf | Printer | Color/Varieties | Grill | Design Size | Usage/Rates |
1861 | 71eTC | n/a | 30¢ Red Orange Essay - The 30¢ "August" or "Premiere Gravure" (see below) | Trial Color Stamp | |||||
1861 | 71 | 8/20/1861 | 3,300,000 | 12 | National | orange to deep orange | none | 20 x 24½ mm | The 30¢ stamp was used to pay the double-letter rate to France and Germany. |
--- | 71a | --- | --- | 12 | National | printed on both sides | none | 20 x 24½ mm | |
1867 | 81 | n/a | ~2000 (8 known) |
12 | National | orange | A | 20 x 24½ mm | |
1868 | 100 | 11/10/1868 | ~280,000 | 12 | National | orange to deep orange multiple and split grill varieties are known |
F | 20 x 24½ mm | |
1875 | 110 | n/a | 346 | 12 | National | brownish orange | none | 20 x 24½ mm | Special Printing |
90¢ Washington 1861-1867
Designer: James Macdonough Vignette: Joseph I. Pease
Frame: Wm. D. Nichols Lettering: Wm. D. Nichols
Year | Number | EDU | No. Issued | Perf | Printer | Color | Grill | Design Size (mm) | Usage/Rates |
1861 | 72-E7h | n/a | 90¢ Dull Blue Essay - The 90¢ "August" or "Premiere Gravure" Essay (see below) | Essay Stamp | |||||
1861 | 72 | 11/27/1861 | ~388,700 | 12 | National | blue | none | 19½ x 24¼ | The 90¢ stamp on cover is very rare, with only about 62 covers known. The stamp was used to pay multiple rate foreign letters, with many to China surviving. Only one domestically used 1861 90¢ cover is known. |
--- | 72a | --- | 12 | National | pale blue | none | 19½ x 24¼ | ||
--- | 72b | --- | 12 | National | dark blue | none | 19½ x 24¼ | ||
1868 | 101 | 5/8/1869 | ~30,000 | 12 | National | blue to dark blue; double grill; split grill |
F | 19½ x 24¼ | |
1875 | 111 | 11/30/1888 | 317 | 12 | National | intense dark blue (Brookman) | none | 19½ x 24¼ | Special Printing |
A Guide to the Grills | ||||
The Grills on the U.S. 1867-1868 Issues | ||||
Grill | Size (mm) | Numbers for this Grill | No. of Points | Points Up/Down |
A | all of stamp | 79, 80, 81 | --- | Up/vertical ridges |
B | 18 x 15 | 82 | 22 x 18 | Up/vertical ridges |
C | 13 x 16 | 83 | 16-17 x 18-21 | Up/vertical ridges |
D | 12 x 14 | 84, 85 | 15 x 17-18 | Down/vertical ridges |
E | 11 x 13 | 86,87,88,89,90,91 | 14 x 15-17 | Down/vertical ridges |
Z | 11 x 14 | 85A, 85B, 85C, 85D, 85E, 85F | 13-14 x 17-18 | Down/horizontal ridges |
F | 9 x 13 | 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 101 | 11-12 x 15-17 | Down/vertical ridges |