The U.S. 1847 Issue: Stamps That Changed The System

Harvey Mirsky FRPSL

5 March 2009

Background and Purpose

In 1845, the U.S. Congress lowered postage rates to 5¢ per ½ ounce for letters traveling up to 300 miles, and 10¢ per ½ ounce for letters traveling beyond 300 miles. In 1847, the first adhesive stamps of the United States - the 5¢ Franklin and 10¢ Washington stamps - were issued to facilitate pre-payment of those new rates.

While this display shows that the new stamps were, indeed, widely used for their intended purpose, our goal is to go beyond that: in particular, we hypothesize that the most important benefit of the new adhesive stamps could only be determined after the fact. Specifically, during its 4 years of currency, the actual usage pattern of the 1847 issue showed that adhesive-stamped mail could do everything, go everywhere, and receive every service that stampless mail received. Accordingly, it could be seen that there was no cultural, logistical or operational reason why adhesive-stamped mail could not replace the U.S. stampless system altogether.

And, changing the system, would eliminate the extra handling and lost revenues associated with unpaid "collect letters" which were a major component of recurring U.S. postal deficits at that time.

Design Of The Display

In support of its hypothesis, the display provides a comprehensive archive of 1847 rates, routes, markings and usages. Each of its 8 sections presents a different aspect of postal use. Taken together, these 8 sections demonstrate that the new stamps were used throughout the country and, indeed, for every kind of postal use.

The first section deals with the basic reason the stamps were issued; namely that they were to be used by the public for the prepayment of postage. It shows examples of the 5¢ Franklin and 10¢ Washington stamps used singularly and in various multi-rate combinations, showing payment not only of the full range of letter rates they were designed for, but also payment of postage for other categories of mail of that era.

The second section illustrates the many Post Office accommodations and services afforded to mail bearing the 1847 first issue. The objective is to show that letters using the new adhesive postage stamps were given the same recognition as stampless mail, and that they enjoyed the complete range of postal operations and services available at that time.

Postage could be paid in various ways involving the new adhesive stamps and, in some instances, local Postmasters provided payment accommodations that went even beyond those authorized in the Postal Regulations. Adhesive-stamped letters were seen in every part of the mail system and they received every courtesy and every accommodation that the U.S. Postal Service could provide. Putting it another way: although small in numbers (only about 2% of all letters), adhesive-stamped mail was, nonetheless, used in 100% of all possible ways.

The third section shows the widespread geographic usage enjoyed by the new stamps. When the 1847 stamps were first issued, there were 29 states in the Union. Two additional states were admitted before the stamps were demonetized on July 1, 1851 (Wisconsin was admitted on May 29, 1848 and California on September 9, 1850). One measure of their success is that while only about 550 post offices received the new stamps (less than 4% of all post offices), there are covers extant from all 31 states, as well as from the District of Columbia.

As this section shows, the use of adhesive postage stamps was not confined to only one particular group of states or to a particular region of the country; the 1847 stamps were used on mail from every part of the country; from cities of every size; and for every type of correspondence. Even a relatively small number of adhesive stamp users (approx. 2% of all letters), demonstrated that adhesive stamps could be used by everyone - regardless of where one lived, or what purpose the letters served.

The fourth section demonstrates that letters bearing adhesive postage stamps were transported via every mode and means available in the 1847-1851 era.

There are three obvious segments to every letter's journey: getting the letter to the local Post Office; transporting the letter to its destination city; and delivering the letter to the local addressee. This portion of the display discusses each of these 3 segments in turn, and shows examples of 1847 mail carried by every one of the available options within each segment.

The fifth section of the display shows that even the newest letter-writing format (envelopes) was used for 1847 mail. Because envelopes were considered separate "sheets" prior to the Postal Reform Act of 1845, an additional postage rate was charged for their use. With reform, however, postage was now based on weight only, thereby eliminating the charge for envelope usage.
The use of envelopes to carry letters was, therefore, basically a brand-new concept in the U.S. (the first U.S. patent for the manufacture of envelopes was only issued in 1848). Nonetheless, envelopes in a variety of sizes and formats were quickly seen with 1847 stamps on them.

The examples in this section were the pioneers, foretelling the various ways envelopes would be used and adapted in the years that followed. In terms of this display and its hypothesis, they are further evidence of the versatility, quick acceptance, and broad usage given to America's first adhesive stamp issue. Not only on folded letters and address sheets, but every way a letter could be sent, it was sent with a stamp!

The sixth section illustrates how quickly, and how deeply, adhesive stamps became an accepted part of American society. The covers shown reflect the most important political event of the era (the Presidential election of 1848 and the subsequent accession of Millard Fillmore to the Presidency), as well as some of the alternative ways the new stamps were treated at the local post office level.
Having demonstrated that letters using postage stamps were operationally and logistically equivalent to stampless mail, this section shows that there were also no apparent cultural barriers to prevent their full integration into society; they were accepted equally - and at all levels - by those who sent mail, as well as by those who processed mail.

The seventh section discusses the highly evolved (and highly cooperative) system that was already in place for sending and receiving mail between the United States and British North America, and documents how well the 1847 stamps fit right into that system. It shows that the stamps would have had no difficulty totally replacing stampless mail for all cross-border uses.

The final section Although international mail was only a very small portion of total U.S. mail volume in 1847, this section shows the new adhesives used on letters to and from British North America, as well as to the Far East, South America, Great Britain and to the European continent - in short, to every destination where mid-nineteenth century mail was carried.

Highlighting the importance of transatlantic commercial ties, a study of U.S.-Great Britain packet mail rates and arrangements begins on the 6th page of this section. The study begins with the pre-treaty period, evolves through the Retaliatory Rate period, and concludes with the open mail, closed mail and standardized rates established under the treaty of 1848.

Conclusion
We have seen that 1847-franked mail did, indeed, go everywhere; do everything; was carried by every means of available transportation; and received every service that was afforded to stampless mail. Our hypothesis, therefore, was correct: when reviewed after the fact, the actual usage pattern of the 1847 issue showed that there was no reason why adhesive-stamped letters could not replace and entirely eliminate the stampless system.

Significantly, when the Postal Service introduced the next issue of postage stamps on July 1, 1851, additional denominations were included. These allowed the use of adhesive stamps also for drop letters and circulars, and facilitated the exact payment of treaty rates. In addition, a lower preferential rate was given for pre-paid letters and stamps were now distributed to virtually every post office in the country (compared to only about 4% availability for the 1847 issue).

The lower rate for pre-payment, and the fact that there was now a full range of adhesive stamps available at virtually every post office in the country, caused the use of stamps to soar. That set the stage and, in 1856, Congress enacted legislation making prepayment of postage - using only adhesive stamps or stamped envelopes - mandatory for all domestic letters.

With that, the final piece of the Great Postal Reform Movement had been put in place. Stampless letters entered history and the modern era began. Postage rates were significantly lower, service was better, "collect" letters (and, therefore, post office deficits) were eliminated, and communications were enhanced. The key to all of that was the 1847 Issue; introduced as just a convenient way for the public to pre-pay postage, these stamps ended up doing much more than that - they showed that stampless mail could be eliminated.

U.S. Packet Mail Carried by the Cunard Line 1847 - 1851

During the currency of the U.S. 1847 issue (July 1, 1847 - June 30, 1851), the British and North American Royal Mail Steam Packet Company (commonly called "The Cunard Line," for its founder Samuel Cunard), was the main carrier of packet mail from the United States to the Maritime Provinces (via Halifax) and to Great Britain and beyond (via Liverpool).

Sailings from the U.S. were originally from Boston only. Beginning in January, 1848, however, sailings alternated between Boston and New York. Service from New York to Halifax was eliminated in September, 1850.

During the 1847 era there were three distinct periods with respect to postage charged by the U.S. Post Office on packet mail to, or via, Great Britain:

-- Pre-Treaty Period: July 1, 1847-June 27, 1848;

-- Retaliatory Rate Period: June 27, 1848- January 3, 1849 (resulting from the British 1 shilling surcharge instituted on June 9, 1847);

-- Treaty Period: January 3, 1849, onward.

The following pages show examples of mail sent from the U.S. during each of the periods.

To note: Postage rates for packet mail to Nova Scotia were not covered by a treaty rate during any part of the 1847 era, but were set unilaterally by Great Britain. Until September 20, 1849, the rate was 1 shilling per ½ ounce. Beginning September 20, 1849, the rate was reduced to 4 pence sterling (4½ pence local currency). Mail to and from the Maritime Provinces was also subjected to the British Surcharge/American Retaliatory Rate.