USA postage Stamp year 1873 6 cents – Agriculture
The stamp is a U.S. “Official” stamp from the first series of stamps issued for the exclusive use of U.S. Government Departments.
Here are the key details for the United States 1873 6-cent Department of Agriculture Official Stamp:
Stamp Details
| Feature | Description |
| Catalogue Number (Scott) | O4 (O stands for Official) |
| Department | Department of Agriculture |
| Denomination | 6 cents |
| Color | Yellow |
| Portrait | Abraham Lincoln |
| Issue Date | 1873 |
| Printer | Continental Bank Note Co. |
| Paper Type | Thin, Hard Paper |
| Perforation | Perforated 12 |
| Purpose | These stamps were not sold to the public but were used solely for official mail sent by the Department of Agriculture. Each department had its own distinct color for its stamps. |
The U.S. Official Stamps series was in use from 1873 until 1884, when they were replaced by the “penalty envelope” system, which allowed official mail to be sent without stamps.2 Because of their limited and restricted use, they are a specialized area of U.S. philately.
The design of the 6-cent stamp, featuring a portrait of Abraham Lincoln, was adapted from a design used in the contemporary definitive postage stamps (the Bank Note Issues)4 of the era. The main distinguishing feature is the inscription of the department name, “AGRICULTURE,” replacing the usual “U.S. POSTAGE.”
