Postage Stamps of the United States - 1861

Politics

President
Jan.1-Mar.3: James Buchanan
Mar.4-Dec.31: Abraham Lincoln

Postmaster General:
1/1-2/11: Joseph Holt 2/12-3/4
Horatio King 3/5-12/31: M. Blair

Music

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1861 "Dixie for the Union"

Postage Rates

Domestic Letter Rate*: under 3000 mi. per ½ oz.: 3¢
Domestic Letter Rate: over 3000 mi. per ½ oz.: 10¢ - Prepayment compulsory, stamp required
Foreign Letter Rate: under 2500 mi. per ½ oz.: 10¢
Foreign Letter Rate: over 2500 mi. per ½ 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.

Stamps

1¢ Franklin
Engraver: Joseph Pease

3¢ Rose Washington
Engraver: Joseph Pease

5¢ Brown Jefferson
Engraver: William Marshall

10¢ Washington
Engraver: William Marshall

12¢ Washington
Engraver: William Marshall

24¢ Lilac Washington
Engraver: William Marshall

30¢ Franklin
Engraver: Joseph P. Pease

90¢ Washington
Engraver: Joseph P. Pease

The examples shown are proofs of the 1861-1868 designs

Important Events in U.S. Postal History: The Pony Express officially quit delivering letters on Oct. 24, 1861, made partially 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.

Printed by the National Bank Note Company · Designs by James Macdonough
Frames by Cyrus Durand (intricate lathwork) and William D. Nichols - Lettering by Wm. Nichols and David M. Cooper

The examples shown are proofs of the 1861-1868 designs
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
Domestic Letter Rate*: under 3000 mi. per ½ oz.: 3¢
Domestic Letter Rate: over 3000 mi. per ½ oz.: 10¢ - Prepayment compulsory, stamp required
Foreign Letter Rate: under 2500 mi. per ½ oz.: 10¢
Foreign Letter Rate: over 2500 mi. per ½ 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
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 partially 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.

* 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.

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