Postage Stamps of the United States - 1860
Politics
President
James Buchanan
Postmaster General:
Joseph Holt
Music
Click Control Above To Hear
1860 "I Know a Pair of Hazel Eyes"
Postage Rates
The Pony Express officially began delivering letters on April 3, 1860
Domestic Letter Rate under 3000 mi. per ½ oz.: Three Cents - Prepayment compulsory, stamp required
Domestic Letter Rate over 3000 mi. per ½ oz.: Ten Cents - Prepayment compulsory, stamp required
Foreign Letter Rate under 2500 mi. per ½ oz.: Ten Cents - except where otherwise adjusted by treaty
Foreign Letter Rate over 2500 mi. per ½ oz.: Twenty Cents - except where otherwise adjusted by treaty
Rate for Drop Letters: One Cent - prepayment not required - no weight restrictions
Rate for Newspapers and Circulars up to 3 oz.: One Cent, with one cent for each additional oz.
Carrier Fee (not available in all cities): One Cent
Registry Fee : Five Cents (no return receipt to sender) - paid in cash, stamp not required
Stamps
24¢ Washington
30¢ Franklin
90¢ Washington
The following postage stamp varieties were first issued by the U.S. in 1860:
All Perforated 15.5
1¢ Franklin Type V (Plate 10 - EDU: June 14, 1860)
5¢ Brown to deep brown Type II Jefferson - EDU: May 4 - est. 825,000 issued
12¢ Black Washington (Plate 3) - EDU: June 1, 1860
24¢ Gray Lilac Washington - EDU: July 7 - about 736,000 issued
24¢ Gray Washington
30¢ Orange Franklin Issued on Aug. 8, 1860 (First Days are Known) - about 356,000 issued
90¢ Blue Washington EDU: Sep. 11 - about 25,000 issued
Commemoratives: 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
see also: Designs of the 1851-1860 Regular Issues
