United States Stamp Society

A non-profit, volunteer-run association of collectors.

The United States Stamp Society (USSS) is a “non-profit” volunteer-run association of collectors devoted to the study of postage and revenue stamped paper produced for use in the United States and U.S. administered areas. Once concerned exclusively with the production of the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, the USSS has expanded its coverage to all United States issues regardless of printer.

New Exhibit Posted: Washington-Franklin Essays, Trial Colors, Proofs

This exhibit shows many of the essays, trial colors and proofs made to design and develop the Washington Franklin series, beginning in 1908 and lasting until 1922.The series was a complete change from the previous stamps.  It follows the initial design ideas from wash drawings, to essays of values and then their change, then to trial colors to choose the color of the stamp to be printed, and then to final approval by the Postmaster General.  When major design changes were made in 1912, these are also shown.   Included are examples of proposed designs that were never issued, and a large 10 subject die to speed up plate production.  These were done to increase efficiency in the Bureau’s production of stamps to meet the public’s demand for stamps. – Gerald Nylander

 

USSS and Smithsonian National Postal Museum Research Fund

The United States Stamp Society (USSS) has partnered with the Smithsonian National Postal Museum (NPM) to support scholarly research through a funding project. The NPM – USSS Research Fund has been created for scholarly research of United States postage and/or revenue stamps or postal history leading to publication. Funding will consist of a five year commitment of $2,500 per year. The program will be administered by the Smithsonian National Postal Museum. See Resource Menu for details
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