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 -
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....... -
Benefits of Collecting Old Stamps Collecting old stamps, especially vintage postage stamps can bring great value. Collecting old stamps can be fun and educational, it can be affordable, and it can bring about understanding of history, art, travel and many other areas of culture as well. Here is an explanation of why collecting old stamps...... -
Australia Stamp King George V Stamps -> Australia The first proper Australian stamps appeared in 1913, with the stamps Australia King George V varieties appearing about 6 months after the first stamps showed up in January. While some Australian stamps were originally issued in 1902, it was 1913 before stamps for the Commonwealth of Australia...... -
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...... -
1909 Lincoln Stamp Set Stamps -> United States -> Collections, Lots The 1909 Lincoln stamp set represents the first time the United States Post Office had issued stamps that didn't promote or commemorate a current event. The public complained about the change in stamps in 1908 to Washing and Franklin stamps, because Lincoln had......
Related Websites - A first-class marketing idea This marketing idea is inexpensive to implement, and pretty much guaranteed that I'd follow through with the little favor that was asked. It's really, really smart. (No, I didn't think of it.) Every family in our church received a sheet of twenty one-cent stamps (cost: $0.20) stapled to a sheet......
-
U.S. Stamp Prices Going Up Monday May 11, 2009 I just wanted to remind everyone that stamps will be going up in price this Monday. In case you haven't heard here's some information from the United States Postal Service: On May 11 the price for a 1-ounce First-Class Mail stamp will increase from 42¢ to 44¢. Prices for other...... -
Weakon 127: The United States Postal Service 656,000. Would you believe that is how many pieces of mail are delivered every day? I'd hope not because the actual number is 660 million. 656,000 are the number of employees at the United States Postal Service. That is second only to Walmart in civilian employees. Here are a...... -
Signatures USPS Return Receipt Requested Signatures are available in a PDF file from the U.S. Postal Service and may be purchased either before or after you mail you send a USPS Certified letter. Signatures – USPS Certified Mail Return Receipt Requested USPS Certified Mail Return Receipt Requested Signatures are available...... -
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......
