First Day of New Postal Rates
and First Day of Three Cent Washington Stamp
"A letter not exceeding half ounce, three cents pre-paid, and five cents if not, under 3000 miles;
but over that distance, double these rates."
OLD FARMER'S ALMANAC - 1852 NEW POST-OFFICE REGULATIONS (July, 1851) |
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"Printed in red, representing the head of Washington in profile, of the denomination of three cents."
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Paid with the new three cent stamp
Southbridge, Massachusetts to Waterbury, Vermont 38 three cent Washington first day covers from 22 cities are known; the stamps are all from plate 1 early and have a pale yellowish orange brown color  |
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Paid in cash - Three cents
Wiscasset, Maine to Charleston, South Carolina Use of postage stamps was not mandatory until January 1, 1856  |
"I mail it one day later that I may come under the new postage laws, as the law makes all letters not prepaid 5¢ and when paid 3¢.
I think you had better purchase 25 to 30¢ worth of the P. O. stamps."
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Five cents due on arrival
New Albany, Indiana to Newark Valley, New York Prepayment was not mandatory until July 1, 1855  |
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 PAID 3 Cts |
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 5 Cts (due) |
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California over 3000 miles Paid 6 San Francisco to Natchez, Mississippi
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California over 3000 miles Ten cents due on arrival San Francisco to Philadelphia
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New Orleans WAY 6 way 1c plus unpaid 5c  |
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Free - New Orleans to Washington |
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 Henry C. Benner, Washington, D.C. |
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 Danforth, Bald & Co. |
 Danforth, Bald & Co. |
 Bald, Cousland & Co. |
 Toppan, Carpenter, Casilear & Co. |
 Bald, Cousland & Co. |
 Bald, Cousland & Co. |