Interesting Philatelic Factoids

Brian P. Russell writes on the Blog Critic website, "The introduction of the U.S. postal stamp actually began in England in May of 1840. A U.S. Senator, Daniel Webster, recommended that the English postage stamps be used in America as well. The idea was well received and the first adhesive postage stamp ever produced in the western hemisphere was born on February 1, 1842 in New York City by a carrier service called “City Despatch Post.” The first U.S. stamp issue, featuring Benjamin Franklin, worth 5 cents, and George Washington, worth 10 cents, however, didn't become available for sale until July 1, 1847 in New York City."

According to Russell, "There are a few stamp sets that are considered to be the most popular of all stamps in American history. The first series of these stamps was the Liberty Issue stamp set in 1854. The Presidential stamp set from 1954 to 1965 came next. From then on it was the Prominent Americans stamp series from 1965 to 1981, the Great Americans stamp set from 1980 to 1994 and finally the American Celebrities stamp series in 2000."

He goes on to write about each of these series.

Russell includes one interesting philatelic factoid about Andrew Jackson.He pens, "Jackson's appearance was the first to be presented on two Confederate stamps, which made him the only U.S. President to be introduced to the postage by the Confederacy rather than the postal office."

Shown above, Daniel Webster  on 2002 U.S. stamp honoring Masters of American Photography , a 1965 US Andrew Jackson stamp which was part of the Prominent Americans series and a 1862 Confederate Andrew Jackson stamp.

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