1847 Benjamin Franklin Five Cents Used Stamp

A rare opportunity to own the very first American postage stamp

The iconic imperforate Five Cents Benjamin Franklin stamp was America’s very first pre-paid postage stamp introduced from the 1st July 1847 and was used for letters weighing less than one ounce and travelling less than three hundred miles. Despite the population difference between the United Kingdom and America, there were significantly less Franklin stamps produced when compared to the Penny Black – in fact it is over eighteen times rarer - making this stamp very difficult to source and extremely sort after by collectors worldwide.

Once the new postal system was introduced, it quickly became very efficient and less than four years later in 1851 Congress reduced the common stamp rate to just three cents, resulting in new stamps being issued and the five cent stamp declared invalid for post and withdrawn.

The stamp featured an image of Benjamin Franklin, who was one of the founding fathers of the United States and the first postmaster general of America. This tribute to Franklin on the very first American postal stamp was a reflection of his importance in unifying and securing independence for America, further enhancing the stamps historical appeal to collectors.

The significance of the very first American postal stamp and its rarity when compared to the Penny Black is a key reason why it is in very high demand today. Utilising our extensive worldwide network of suppliers, Harrington & Byrne have managed to secure a very small number of these historic stamps to offer today.

Key Issue Information:

• The imperforate 1847 Benjamin Franklin Five Cent stamp is the very first American pre-paid postage stamp
• Incredibly this stamp is eighteen times rarer than the Penny Black
• The stamp featured an image of Benjamin Franklin who was one of the founding fathers of America and its first postmaster general
• Declared invalid for post in 1851 due to a reduction in the common stamp rate to three cents
• Housed in a Deluxe Presentation Folder with Certificate