Postage Stamps of the United States - 1873

Politics

President
Ulysses S. Grant

Postmaster General:
John A. J. Creswell

Music

Click Control Above To Hear
1872 "Home On The Range"

Postage Rate

Domestic Letter Rate: 3¢ per ½ oz

Registry Fee: 15¢

Foreign Rate: 5¢

Card Rate: A new rate of 1¢ for mailing cards was instituted on May 1, 1873

Stamps

1¢ Franklin

2¢ Brown Jackson

3¢ Locomotive

6¢ Washington

10¢ Shield and Eagle

12¢ S.S. Adriatic

15¢ Columbus Landing

24¢ Declaration of Independence

30¢ Flag, Shield and Eagle

90¢ Lincoln

12¢ S.S. Adriatic

Ordinary Postage Stamps First Issued in 1873 - The Continental Bank Notes
Continental Bank Note Company - Hard White Paper - Perf 12 - 200 Subject Plates - With Secret Marks

See also: Bank Note Identifier

The following postage stamp varieties were first issued by the U.S. in 1873:
Continental Bank Note Co. - Hard White Paper - With Secret Marks
All but the 90¢ are known with grill and bring a premium if authenticated
Number 156 - One Cent Ultramarine Franklin - EDU: Aug. 22, 1873 - about 448 million issued
Number 157 - Two Cent Brown Jackson -EDU: July 12, 1873 - about 141 million issued
Number 158 - Three Cent Green Washington -EDU: July 17, 1873 - about 2.7 billion issued
Number 159 - Six Cent Dull Pink Lincoln - EDU: June 8, 1873 - about 38 million issued
Number 160 - Seven Cent Orange Stanton -EDU: Sep. 10, 1873 - about 2.5 million issued
Number 161 - Ten Cent Brown Jefferson - EDU: Aug. 2, 1873 - about 21 million issued
Number 162 - Twelve Cent Dark Violet Clay - EDU: Jan. 3, 1874 - about 2.9 million issued
Number 163 - Fifteen Cent Yellow Orange Webster - EDU: July 22, 1873 - about 3 million issued
Number 164 - Twenty-Four Cent Purple Number (only 1 verified copy known) Aug. 22, 1873 - number issued not known
Number 165 - Thirty Cent Greenish to Grayish Black Hamilton - EDU: Oct. 14, 1874 - about 782,500 issued
Number 166 - Ninety Cent Rose Carmine Oliver Perry - EDU: June 25, 1875 - about 197,000 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 1870-1888 Regular Issues