Month: June 2018

Like the 2¢ 2nd Bureau stamps were to domestic mail, the 5¢ Lincoln sought similar use on international destined mail. In 1875 the Universal Postal Union (UPU) set a standardized rate equivalent to 5¢ per half an ounce for all 1st class mail traveling to foreign countries. The rate remained into effect until Oct. 1, 1907, when it changed to 5¢ per ounce and 3¢ each additional ounce. The Lincoln stamp was issued early in 1903. Varieties include imperforate and coil stamps as well as U.S. Possessions, Canal Zone and the Philippines, overprints.

Varieties (Scott catalog number):

Common Uses:

• 1/2 ounce UPU foreign letter rate
• Makeup higher rates
• Pair paying domestic letter rate plus registry fee

Solo Uses:

• 1st class UPU foreign letter (1/2 oz)

Sent to the Channel Islands.

• Postcard sent via the UPU letter rate
• 2nd class (< 20 oz newspaper/magazine)
• 3rd class (< 10 oz printed matter)
• 4th class (< 5 oz samples/merchandise)

Favorite Covers:

• Foreign letter to German East Africa
• Cover to Tonga
• Cover to Madagascar
• A pair on a penalty envelope
• Early use

Other Info:

• Forgeries of the 5¢ Imperforate

The 4¢ Ulysses Simpson Grant stamp primarily saw use in combination with other stamps or postal stationery. However, solo uses are not uncommon on double weight domestic letters. As with the 1¢ and 2¢ 2nd Bureau stamps, imperforate and private vending coils were released but are considerably rarer. The 4¢ Grant was placed into circulation in March of 1903.

Varieties (Scott catalog number):

Common Uses:

• Make up multiple rates
• 2 ounce 1st class letters
• Added to 1¢ entire or stamp to pay UPU foreign letter rate

Solo Uses:

• 1st class (2 oz)

Triple UPU rate to Switzerland

• 2nd class (< 16 oz newspaper/magazine)
• 3rd class (< 8 oz printed matter)
• 4th class (< 4 oz samples or merchandise)
• Postage due use

Favorite Covers:

• Pretty advertising cover
• RFD on registered cover
• Special delivery cover
• Bisect stamp on cover

Twice the letter rate (4¢) for up to two ounces, plus 8¢ fee for registry service on an advertising cover sent from Chicago to Mexico City. Handled in St Louis, Missouri the cover received an exchange label before entering Mexico. There are 17 St Louis exchange labels recorded in the USSS census.

The purple 3¢ Andrew Jackson stamp was placed into circulation in March 1903. During the reign of the 2nd Bureau series, there was no 1st class solo franking opportunity for the 3¢ Jackson denomination. The stamp found uses combined with other stamps or stamped envelopes. Less common frankings include 3rd and 4th class mails.

Varieties (Scott catalog number):

Common Uses:

• Make up multiple rates
• Added to 2¢ entire to pay foreign letter rate

Solo Uses:

• 2nd class (< 12 oz newspaper or magazine)
• 3rd class (< 6 oz printed matter)
• 4th class (< 3 oz samples or merchandise)

Double UPU rate to Java.

Favorite Covers:

• Multiple of 5 paying special delivery rate
• Cover to South Africa with a deficient address
• 4th class cloth sample cover.
• Overpaying 1st class rate.

Like the 1¢ issue, the 2¢ Washington sought use on a variety of mail and was issued in January 1903. The public immediately disliked the ornate design claiming the first president appeared weak. Later in 1903 the stamp was redesigned and reissued. There are several common solo franking possibilities from 1st class letters to twice the weight 3rd and 4th class mails. The stamp also sought use on foreign destined postcards and postal treaty covers to Mexico and Canada. Varieties include booklet panes and the Philippines overprint.

Varieties (Scott catalog number):

Common Uses:

• All 1st class mail
• Foreign destined postcards
• Make up multiple rates

Solo Uses:

UPU rate to the Azores

• Foreign destined postcard

• 1st class letter (< 1 ounce)
• 2nd class (< 8 oz newspaper or magazine)
• 3rd class (< 4 oz printed matter )
• 4th class (< 2 oz samples or merchandise)

Favorite Covers:

• EDU on cover
• Registered letter with 5 stamps
• Special delivery mourning cover

Issued in February 1903, the 1¢ stamp was one of the workhorse stamps of the 2nd Bureau issue. During the turn of the 20th century, the boom in the popularity of the penny postcard created considerable demand for the 1¢ franking. The stamp sought use on every form of mail paying virtually every rate.

Several Franklin varieties were produced including booklet panes, imperforate stamps, and coils.

There are numerous solo franking possibilities, including the penny domestic postcard, unsealed newspapers or magazines (2nd class mail, 1¢ / 4oz.), circulars (3rd class mail, 1¢ / 2oz.), and samples or merchandise (4th class mail, 1¢ / 1oz.).

Varieties (Scott catalog number):

Common Uses:

• All 1st class mail
• Domestic postcards
• Make up multiple rates

Postal card to Gabon, Africa

Solo Uses:

• Domestic postcard
• 1st class non-carrier letter
• 2nd class (< 4 oz newspaper or magazine)
• 3rd class (< 2 oz printed matter )
• 4th class (< 1 oz samples or merchandise)

Favorite Covers:

• Block of 30 on Piece
• Postcard to Portuguese West Africa
• Postcard to Indo-China
• Printed matter to Papua New Guinea
• An insurance policy in Spanish
• Redirected 3rd class wrapper
• 3rd class treaty rate to Canada
• Held for postage
• Valentine’s Day Card