JOBI Philatelic Services: Information
Sheet
©6/1/2004, revised 12/14/2004, expanded:
1/26/2009, 3/26/2009, 6/7/2009,
A Brief History of US Postal Stationery
1853: First stamped envelope (3˘ Washington,
Nesbitt 1st issue) is produced in the
1860: First and only compound die stamped envelope
(1˘ + 3˘ star dies)
1861: First stamped newspaper wrapper (1˘
(Manila paper introduced for use in
wrappers)
1861: First stamped
letter sheets (3˘, 3rd Nesbitt issue, on blue, two sizes)
1861?: First counterfeit
stamped envelope (1˘
1861: Demonetization of all first issue and most
second issue stamped envelopes;
1˘ Franklin star die and the
compound die NOT demonetized.
1873: First stamped Official envelope (2˘ Post
Office Dept.)
1873: First postal card (1˘
1876: First commemorative stamped envelope (3˘
Centennial)
1877: Use of a “PENALTY” clause by the Post Office
Department authorized by Congress
1879: First international postal card (2˘
1879: First “PENALTY” overprinted stamped envelope
(War Dept. stationery)
1886: Grant letter sheet is issued.
1893: First message/reply postal card (1˘ + 1˘
Grant)
1893: First international reply postal card (2˘ +
2˘
1896?: First counterfeit
postal cards produced
(1˘
1897: First “PENALTY” clause stamp-less envelope
1902: Grant letter sheets withdrawn from sale
1908: First postal card with correspondence space
on front (1˘ McKinley)
1913: First Official postal card (1˘ US Postal
Savings)
1915: Introduction of wove paper for stamped
envelopes
(Actually the
discontinuance of laid paper)
1920: First surcharging of stamped envelopes and
postal cards
1928: Post Office Dept. begins providing
precanceled stamped envelopes
(Local precanceled stamped envelopes
and wrappers date to the late 1860s)
1929: First air mail stamped envelope is produced.
Use of manila
paper for 1˘ and 1 1/2˘ envelopes and wrappers discontinued
Use of only extra quality paper for
4˘ and 5˘ envelopes instituted
1932: Largest number of stamped envelopes produced
in one day:
19,168,000 3c envelopes
produced on July 29
1934: Production of newspaper wrappers is
discontinued
1944: Borders on air mail envelopes suspended to
speed production to meet the demands
of the armed forces.
1945: Provisional surcharge, boxed 6˘, applied to
surplus 2˘ first class envelopes to meet
the demands of the armed forces.
1946: Borders on air mail envelopes resumed.
1947: First air letter sheet (10c DC-4 Skymaster)
is produced.
1949: First air mail postal card (4˘ eagle in
flight) is issued.
1955: Extra quality paper discontinued for stamped
envelopes.
1956: First commemorative postal card (2˘ FIPEX) is
issued.
First two color postal card (2˘
FIPEX) is issued.
1961: Experimental precanceled postal card (3˘
purple
1965: “Silent” precanceled stamped envelopes for
nonprofit organizations
(1 1/4˘ Liberty Bell)
1966: First tagged regular postal card (4˘
1966: First international air mail postal card
(11˘, Commerce Dept., visit the
1967: First tagged regular (5˘ bald eagle) and
air mail (8˘ jet in triangle) stamped envelopes
1968: First tagged air mail postal card (8˘
stylized, precanceled eagle)
1973: Last air mail envelope issued (air letter
sheets continue to be issued)
1977: First photogravure & embossed envelope
(13˘ golf)
1977: First US stamped envelope produced without
embossing (13˘ energy conservation)
1988: First typographed & embossed envelope
(25˘, stars/USA)
1989: First hologram stamped envelope (25˘, shuttle
docking at space station)
1989: First multi-design sheet postal cards (15˘
1989: First picture postal cards (15˘ White
House/15˘
1990: First computer vended postal card (15˘ Postal
Buddy)
1994: First picture postal card set (Legends of the
West)
1996: First picture postal card booklet (Summer
Olympics)
1999: Air letter sheets discontinued
Postal cards sold at postage + 1˘
2001: Postal cards sold at postage + 2˘
2008: Postal cards sold at postage + 3˘
