US 1846 Carriers' Stamp 2c on 3c New York, N.Y. Scott. 6LB7


US 1846 Carriers' Stamp 2c on 3c New York, N.Y. Scott. 6LB7


Series: Carriers' Stamps
Issued Year: 1846
Face value: 2c. on 3c. (First government-issued, overprinted stamp)

Catalogue No:-
Scott (USA): 6LB7 (is unique)

Paper: Blue green glazed Paper
Perforation: Imperforate

Themes: Famous People, Heads of State, Men

Description:- The world's first government-issued, overprinted stamp is the 2c on 3c U.S. City Despatch Post carrier issue, Scott 6LB7. It was overprinted in late 1845 or early 1846 to meet the need for a 2c stamp to prepay the carrier fee after the drop-letter rate was modified on July 1, 1845. Only four stamps are recorded, including three genuinely used on covers.

Henry Thomas Windsor was the owner of "The City Despatch Post Company" of New York which issued the first Stamp in the USA. A black/grey three cent stamp depicting the head of George Washington.

Windsor was a merchant from London who was inspired by Rowland Hill's postal reforms in Great Britain including the issuing of the world's first stamp the Penny Black. He decided as a business venture, to establish a private post in New York City. A few months after founding the City Dispatch Post, Windsor sold it to the U.S. Government and the post became known as the "United States City Despatch Post." The government began operation of this local post on August 16, 1842. After the sale Windsor and his wife returned to London.

The 3-cent stamp issued City Despatch Post in 1842 was the first postage stamp issued in the Western Hemisphere. It followed Great Britain’s Penny Black and Two-Pence Blue by a mere 21 months and predated the U.S. 1845 Postmaster’s Provisionals, and 1847 General Issues by three and five years, respectively. The stamps were engraved on steel by Rawdon, Wright & Hatch and printed in sheets of 42.

Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Thomas_Windsor ; stampauctionnetwork.com/y/y10056.cfm