United States stamp year 1873 10c Treasury Department
The United States 10-cent stamp from 1873 labeled “Treasury Department” is an important item from the first series of U.S. Official Stamps.1
Here are the key details about this stamp:
Feature | Detail |
Type of Stamp | Official Stamp (Departmental Stamp) |
Issuing Department | Treasury Department |
Year of Issue | 1873 (Issued July 1, 1873) |
Denomination | 10 cents (10¢) |
Portrait/Design | Thomas Jefferson (The stamp uses the same central portrait as the contemporary 10¢ regular issue Bank Note stamp.) |
Color | Brown |
Printer | Continental Bank Note Company |
Perforations | Perforated 12 |
Scott Catalogue No. | O77 |
Historical Context
- Official Mail System: Before July 1, 1873, U.S. government mail was sent postage-free using the “franking” privilege.2 In 1873, this privilege was abolished, and a system of Official Stamps was introduced to track postage costs for each government department.3
- Departmental Sets: Each of the nine executive departments (including Treasury, Interior, War, Navy, Post Office, etc.) was issued its own separate set of stamps, distinguished by the department name printed across the top and a unique color. The Treasury Department stamps were printed in shades of Brown.
- Abolishment: The use of Official Stamps was short-lived, as the system was declared obsolete in 1884 and replaced by the “penalty” envelope system. This limited period of use makes the entire 1873 Official series a popular and distinct area of U.S. philately.
Reviews
There are no reviews yet.