Stamps -> Topic & Specialty -> War
The United Postal Service issued a sheet of 20 stamps in 1995 with the theme of the US Civil War. The Civil War was the deadliest war in American history, resulting in the death of 620,000 soldiers and an untold number of civilians. The war served to hold the Union together, solidify the role of the federal government in the workings of the United States, and ended slavery. It lasted from 1861 to 1865 and was also called the “War Between the States” and the “War Between Brothers,” as it was not uncommon for family members, even brothers to be fighting on opposite sides, depending on their beliefs toward slavery and states seceding from the Union.
Jefferson Davis headed the movement for 11 Southern states whose economies depended on the slave trade to secede from the Union and form the Confederacy. When Lincoln was elected in 1860, 7 of those states had already declared that would secede before Lincoln even got to take office in March 1861. Only a month later, the fighting began when the Confederates attacked Fort Sumter in South Carolina, starting the US Civil War. Lincoln called for volunteers from the states who supported the Union, and they were able to take control of the border states and gained the upper hand. Lincoln’s 1862 Emancipation Proclamation made one main focus of the war abolishing slavery in the South, while the South believed they were fighting to keep their way of life. Confederate commander Robert E. Lee, after many early victories, was turned back at Gettysburg and the South lost momentum. He surrendered to Ulysses S. Grant on April 9, 1865.
The US Civil War stamps released by the Postal Service in 1995 come in a colorful sheet designed for collecting, with even the top bar above the stamps featuring artwork and making it a valuable part of the stamp sheet. Each stamp has its own subject that was in some way important to the Civil War. The gummed side of each stamp bears a short description of the subject of that stamp. The stamps feature 16 individuals of importance, and 4 key Civil War battles.
The US Civil War stamps weren’t released on any important date relating to the Civil war, as commemorative stamps usually are, but instead were second in a US Postal Service series called the Classics Collection, in which all 20 stamps relate to a theme and feature historical information printed on the back of each stamp.
eBay is an excellent source for these US Civil War stamps, as well as many others, and it’s not unusual to find them in an intact sheet. If you can find a first day of issue cancellation, you’ll have a great addition to your collection, as well. First day ceremonies for this stamp were held at the Gettysburg National Military Park in Pennsylvania where the Civil War turned and began heading toward its end. The pictorial cancellation given there was a cannon, but the stamps were also released nationwide so a variety of cancellations are possible.
Originally posted 2008-11-02 14:00:48. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
Related Posts -
Third Reich Stamps Stamps -> Europe -> Germany and Area When it comes to collecting stamps that were produced during the second world war, many collectors gravitate towards what are known as “Third Reich Stamps.” These are stamps that were produced in Germany from a period between 1933 and 1945, when the Third...... -
US Stamps Stamps -> US Stamps : 19th Century Unused, 19th Century Used Collecting stamps from around the world is a popular hobby for many, but there are also many valuable stamps that are hard to find. US Stamps in particular can be very rare, and there are quite a few that...... -
Cuba Stamps Stamps -> WorldWide The first Cuba stamps were made available in April of 1855, 15 years after the first postage stamps were printed in Great Britain. Before the advent of the postage stamp in Cuba, letters were often delivered to the addressee requiring him or her to pay the postage....... -
Antique Postage Stamps Stamps -> Worldwide -> Postal History When it comes to collecting stamps, most collectors dream of being able to find the perfect antique postage stamps. By far, these are usually the ones that are the most valuable and in many cases, they are the most visually interesting. If you are...... - Valuable Stamps Stamps -> Worldwide -> Postal History If you are interested in stamp collecting as more than just a hobby, it is important to focus on finding valuable stamps. These are the ones that will enhance your personal collection and provide you with a solid investment that you can count on.......
Related Websites -
Convict Lake, Convict Lake, CA Convict Lake is located in: Convict Lake, CA Phone: 760-934-3800 Lake History: This is a lake with a very rich history and after one visit, it's easy to see why it is so popular. We greatly enjoyed our time on this lake and look forward to going back soon. The...... -
Tennis Preview: The West Virginia Open Final preparations are currently being made for the West Virginia Open, the 48th of its kind, which is slated to begin on July 22 and last until July 26, and will be held at the Oglebay Tennis Center. This event is building a great amount of following, especially when you...... - T-Shirt Arrest During The State of The Union Once again t-shirts are causing problems out there. Well actually not sure why this was a problem but apparently it was to some. Over the years t-shirts have stirred up controversy. Schools have banned certain t-shirts or t-shirt styles, shirts have been linked to gangs or cults and so forth.......
- Pact Act of 2009 Another Notch in the fight to take our rights away With everything that's been going on in the U.S. Congress this year, most are watching the fight about Healthcare. While we're all watching that, Congress is quietly slipping in a little something called the Pact Act of 2009. Of course it's really not that big of a deal, I mean,......
- President Obama’s State of the Union Address The time is 9:30 p.m and I just had the opportunity to enjoy President Obama’s State of the Union Address. Personally, I felt the speech was on target, eloquent, powerful, and even incorporated humor. Obama’s speech was relevant to the current state of affairs and he covered every issue......
