JOBI Philatelic Services:  Information Sheet

©6/1/2004, revised 12/14/2004, expanded: 1/26/2009, 3/26/2009, 6/7/2009, 8/1/2009

 

A Brief History of US Postal Stationery

 

1853:  First stamped envelope (3˘ Washington, Nesbitt 1st issue) is produced in the U.S.

 

1860:  First and only compound die stamped envelope (1˘ + 3˘ star dies)

 

1861:  First stamped newspaper wrapper (1˘ Franklin star die)

            (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˘ Franklin star die, Nesbitt 2nd issue)

 

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˘ Liberty with large watermark)

 

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˘ Liberty)

 

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˘ Liberty, blue)

 

1896?:  First counterfeit postal cards produced

(1˘ Jefferson, large wreath w/name, Smith counterfeits)

 

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1902:  Grant letter sheets withdrawn from sale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 Liberty w/precancel lines)

 

1965:  “Silent” precanceled stamped envelopes for nonprofit organizations

(1 1/4˘ Liberty Bell)

 

1966:  First tagged regular postal card (4˘ Lincoln)

 

1966:  First international air mail postal card

(11˘, Commerce Dept., visit the USA) is issued.

 

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˘ America the Beautiful)

                       

1989:  First picture postal cards (15˘ White House/15˘ Jefferson Memorial)

 

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˘