Stamp Series

1978 15¢ A-rate Eagle, perf 11
May 22, 1978

First Alphabet Rate Change Stamp

On May 22, 1978, the USPS issued its first in a long series of Alphabet rate change stamps. These stamps were used with existing postage until new stamps were released to meet changing rates.

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1981 18¢ Transportation Series: Surrey, 1890s
May 18, 1981

Start of the Transportation Series 

On May 18, 1981, the USPS issued the first stamp in the Transportation Series picturing the Surrey, a doorless four-wheeled carriage. The series would span 15 years and become the largest definitive series at the time.

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1993 29¢ Garden Flowers: Tulip
May 15, 1993

Garden Flower Series

On May 15, 1993, the USPS issued the first installment in the Garden Flower Series, which would honor flowers that bloom in each of the four seasons. The series was inspired by the popular Wildflowers 50-stamp se-tenant issued a year earlier.

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1997 25¢ Juke Box, non-denominational, linerless coil
March 14, 1997

Experimental Linerless Coil Stamps

On March 14, 1997, the USPS issued two linerless coil stamps on a small scale to test the potentially money-saving format. Despite early positive reviews, the experiment was short-lived.

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1995 5¢ Butte, American Scenes Series
March 10, 1995

American Scenes & American Transportation Series 

On March 10, 1995, the USPS issued the first stamps in two new definitive series – American Scenes and American Transportation. These stamps were created as part of the USPS process of converting its service-inscribed stamps for discounted bulk mail to non-denominational postage.

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1870-71 3¢ Washington
March 1, 1870

Bank Note Series 

March 1, 1870, is the earliest known use of one of the Bank Note stamps, a long-running series of stamps produced by three different bank note companies. These stamps have interesting differences thanks to secret marks, grills, paper varieties, fancy cancels, and more!

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1932 2¢ Third Olympic Winter Games
January 25, 1932

First U.S. Olympic Stamp 

On January 25, 1932, the US Post Office Department issued its first stamp honoring the Olympic Games.  Those games were the first to be held in the US.

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1960 4¢ American Credo: George Washington
January 20, 1960,

American Credo Series

On January 20, 1960, the US Post Office Department issued the first stamp in the American Credo Series. The stamps feature quotes from notable Americans, honoring “the ideals upon which America was founded.”

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1967 5¢ George Washington, redrawn
November 17, 1967

Redrawn Washington

Following heavy criticism, the US Post Office issued a new “clean shaven” George Washington stamp on November 17, 1967. The stamp replaced a Prominent Americans stamp issued in 1966.

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