United States First Issue, 1847
Also known as: 1847 Issue
Record status
Individual type · research required
Period
1847
Issuing entity
United StatesThe United States First Issue of 1847 is the first general issue of adhesive postage stamps authorized for nationwide postal service by the United States government post office. Released on July 1, 1847, the issue consists of two line-engraved, imperforate stamps: a five-cent denomination depicting Benjamin Franklin and a ten-cent denomination featuring George Washington.
Produced by the New York City firm Rawdon, Wright, Hatch, and Edson, these stamps established the practice of using portraits of American presidents and prominent statesmen on definitive postage. The depiction of Washington was drawn from an engraving by portrait engraver Asher Brown Durand previously used on bank currency, while Franklin's inclusion recognized his historical position as the nation's first Postmaster General.
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 3
- Photograph views
- 2
- Catalogue references
- 0
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Historical context
Before the introduction of federal adhesive stamps, American postal delivery depended on stampless mail where recipients generally paid the delivery charges upon receipt, alongside private carrier stamps and local postmasters' provisionals. Introducing national postage stamps required the postal system to adopt standardized rates across the country, replacing complex jurisdictional fee schedules to facilitate universal prepayment. Released following these rate reforms, the 1847 issue initiated the gradual phase-out of receiver-paid mail and private dispatch posts, leading up to the postal reform in 1855 that made adhesive stamps mandatory for domestic mail.
Physical characteristics
- Denominations
- Five cents and ten cents
Technical characteristics
- Printing
- Line-engraved
- Perforation
- Imperforate
Design
- Ten cents
- George Washington
- Five cents
- Benjamin Franklin
Identification
- Caution
- Reproductions and reprints of this issue exist and must be distinguished by a specialist
- Recognition pointers (from background sources)
- Verify the denominations and subjects: a five-cent stamp portraying Benjamin Franklin and a ten-cent stamp depicting George Washington. Look for the firm initials "RWH&E" engraved at the bottom of both designs. Note the production format: original stamps of this issue were line-engraved and issued imperforate. Distinguish originals from 1875 reprints and official reproductions, which were produced using subtly altered, re-engraved designs.
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.
Research required
- Catalogue numbers to be transcribed from a verified edition
- Printing and reprint distinctions to be recorded with citations