1873 US Officials - Dept of Interior - MH & Used Stamps

Description: 1873 U.S. Department of The Interior Official Mail Stamps Lot of nine(9) pieces. This is a short set, it is missing scott# O21. Stamps are in good used and mint-hinged condition. Please examine photos. 🔸🔶🔸 Official mail stamps are genuine postage stamps, although they were never available at any Post office. These unique stamps are called officials because their use was strictly limited to government mail. Before 1873, government agencies had franking privileges. This meant that government mail could be sent free of postage as long as it bore an authorized signature on the envelope. As of 1st July 1873, “franking” privileges were discontinued and special Official Stamps were put into circulation for use on government mail. Each department was issued its own set of stamps. Many of the designs were taken from the current series of regular postage stamps being printed at that time – the so-called “Bank Note Issues.” The department names were inscribed on the stamps instead of the usual “U.S. Postage” and each set was printed in its own distinct color. Only the Post office department had its own unique design — a numeral within an oval frame. In 1884, the Officials were declared obsolete and were replaced with the “penalty” envelope. These envelopes were in printed with an official emblem and carried a warning against unauthorized used by private individuals. 🔸🔶🔸🔶🔸🔶🟧🔶🔸🔶🔸🔶🔸 📸📸Please examine the photos for condition details. ☑️ combined postage available 💯🤝 🌎📮👉Winner pays tracked shipping worldwide. Please do not message me asking to send untracked. 🫶Thank you for looking, & please check out my other items. MsCal’s Yesterdays Papers CELEBRATING 25 YEARS ON EBAY! ❤️💙🧡💚📜🗺💌🗞📬📮❤️💙💛💚

Price: 41.5 USD

Location: Astoria, New York

End Time: 2025-02-13T02:21:19.000Z

Shipping Cost: N/A USD