Today in History: Postage Stamps


Today in History–July 1–the Library of Congress features postage stamps. On July 1, 1847, the United States Post Office issued a five-cent stamp honoring Benjamin Franklin, the first postmaster general under the Continental Congress, and a ten-cent stamp honoring George Washington. Philatelists and the just plain curious can find more tantalizing tidbits by visiting the Today in History section, and clicking the links below for sorts of stamp sources.

Postage stamp images

Stamp legislation

Funeral procession of Miss Americ-Stamp

Confederate stamps

Suffrage stamp

Postal stamp promotional display

Hashknife pony express cachet

Trading stamp illustration

U.S. war stamp poster 1

U.S. war stamp poster 2

British war savings stamp poster

Postage stamp historical newspaper coverage

Periodical articles

Library blog posts