This U.S. postage stamp image gallery provides 12 clearly identified, public-domain historical stamp pictures from 1847 through 1947. Every image is tied to an issue name, year or issue date, denomination, format, source record and image-use status. It is a verified starting collection—not a complete catalog of every U.S. or modern USPS stamp.
Use the text search or year selector below. For the broader chronology that this visual index supports, visit the USPS stamp release archive.
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Showing 12 images.
First U.S. General Issue — Benjamin Franklin
- Year / issue date
- 1847 / 1847-07-01
- Denomination
- 5 cents
- Format
- imperforate adhesive stamp
- Image size
- 499 × 630 px
- Image-use status
- Public domain (checked September 10, 2026)
First U.S. General Issue — George Washington
- Year / issue date
- 1847 / 1847-07-01
- Denomination
- 10 cents
- Format
- imperforate adhesive stamp
- Image size
- 600 × 755 px
- Image-use status
- Public domain (checked September 10, 2026)
1869 Pictorial Issue — Steam Locomotive
- Year / issue date
- 1869 / 1869-03-01
- Denomination
- 3 cents
- Format
- perforated, grilled adhesive stamp
- Image size
- 1132 × 1109 px
- Image-use status
- Public domain (checked September 10, 2026)
1869 Pictorial Issue — Declaration of Independence
- Year / issue date
- 1869 / 1869
- Denomination
- 24 cents
- Format
- bi-color adhesive stamp
- Image size
- 792 × 788 px
- Image-use status
- Public domain (checked September 10, 2026)
Columbian Exposition Issue — Columbus in Sight of Land
- Year / issue date
- 1893 / 1893-01-02
- Denomination
- 1 cent
- Format
- commemorative adhesive stamp
- Image size
- 1790 × 1235 px
- Image-use status
- Public domain (checked September 10, 2026)
Columbian Exposition Issue — Landing of Columbus
- Year / issue date
- 1893 / 1893-01-02
- Denomination
- 2 cents
- Format
- commemorative adhesive stamp
- Image size
- 787 × 550 px
- Image-use status
- Public domain (checked September 10, 2026)
Trans-Mississippi Exposition Issue — Marquette on the Mississippi
- Year / issue date
- 1898 / 1898-06-17
- Denomination
- 1 cent
- Format
- commemorative adhesive stamp
- Image size
- 800 × 530 px
- Image-use status
- Public domain (checked September 10, 2026)
Trans-Mississippi Exposition Issue — Western Cattle in Storm
- Year / issue date
- 1898 / 1898-06-17
- Denomination
- 1 dollar
- Format
- commemorative adhesive stamp
- Image size
- 800 × 539 px
- Image-use status
- Public domain (checked September 10, 2026)
Curtiss Jenny Airmail Issue
- Year / issue date
- 1918 / 1918-05-13
- Denomination
- 24 cents
- Format
- bi-color airmail adhesive stamp
- Image size
- 784 × 692 px
- Image-use status
- Public domain (checked September 10, 2026)
Curtiss Jenny Airmail Issue — Inverted Jenny error
- Year / issue date
- 1918 / 1918
- Denomination
- 24 cents
- Format
- bi-color airmail printing error
- Image size
- 523 × 486 px
- Image-use status
- Public domain (checked September 10, 2026)
Presidential Series (Prexies)
- Year / issue date
- 1938 / 1938 (series)
- Denomination
- multiple denominations
- Format
- series overview; sheet designs shown
- Image size
- 844 × 487 px
- Image-use status
- Public domain (checked September 10, 2026)
U.S. Postage Stamp Centenary Issue
- Year / issue date
- 1947 / 1947-05-17
- Denomination
- 3 cents
- Format
- commemorative adhesive stamp
- Image size
- 1320 × 844 px
- Image-use status
- Public domain (checked September 10, 2026)
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How to identify and use these stamp pictures
- Identify the object first: compare the complete design, denomination, date and issue title—not color alone.
- Separate postal value from collector value: the historical denomination shown here does not establish present postal validity or market value.
- Check rights image by image: the 12 files above were marked public domain in their linked image records when checked. That status does not automatically apply to other stamp images.
- Verify historical facts: each card links to National Postal Museum material for its issue or series.
Coverage and source method
The collection begins with the first U.S. general issue, then samples the 1869 Pictorial, 1893 Columbian, 1898 Trans-Mississippi, 1918 Jenny, 1938 Presidential and 1947 Postage Stamp Centenary issues. Images were selected only after the file record and rights metadata were checked. Issue facts and image permissions are kept as separate evidence.
For a step-by-step identification workflow, use the U.S. stamp identification and issue guide.