Text below is taken from “The United States Postage Stamps of the 19th Century“
by Lester G. Brookman, Volume II 1861-1882
5 Cent Buff, Scott No. 67
This stamp, first printed in buff, brown yellow and olive yellow, is known used (in the brown yellow shade) as early as August 19, 1861. The records of the Postmaster General, as given by Luff, indicate that approximately 600,000 of the 5 cent stamps were issued during 1861 and it is presumed that all of them were in the colors listed above. All were printed from Plate 27 as were all the 5 cent stamps of the 1861 series.
From observations made over a considerable period of time, this is one of the most difficult U.S. stamps to obtain in sound condition. Cleaned specimens are very often found masquerading as unused and of the used stamps many are damaged or have been damaged and are repaired. The paper seems so brittle that it is susceptible to cracking. To further complicate the difficulty of obtaining a fine specimen, the color of the stamp is such that cancellations show up rather heavily.
It is on record that a vertical strip of three, imperforate horizontally, was found but that it was cut up into three singles. In a sale held by Morgenthau, Jan. 25, 1921, of the M.H. Newmark Collection, a pair imperforate horizontally described as “very fine” was sold but this item is not frequently catalogued.
The stamp is exceedingly rare in blocks and the only record we have of blocks is a used block of four sold in the Philip H. Ward, Jr. Sale of June 2, 1942, and an unused O.G. block of 4 sold by Eugene Klein on May 17, 1940. This unused block previously had been in the Dubeen and Hind Collections. The used block of the Ward Sale was a beautiful item used on a cover mailed on Nov. 1, 1961 with the latest known use of “Ocean Mail” cancellation. The letter was routed via Panama to San Francisco. This exceptional cover formerly was in the Barrett S. Hindes Collection but we do not know its present whereabouts.
5 Cent Red Brown, Scott No. 75
Because it probably was decided that the color of the 5 Cent as first issued could be improved upon, the color was changed from buff to red brown. The earliest reported use of the stamp in this color is January 2, 1862. The stamp is also known in dark red brown. I consider the used red brown to be more scarce that the buff but the buff is more scarce unused.
The only block which we have noted was an O.G. block of 4 sold in the Hind Sale. The stamp is known on patriotic cover but it is a scarce item so used. The stamp has been found with a double transfer of the top frame line, the bottom frame line, and both top and bottom frame lines, and since it was printed from the same plate that printed the 5 cent buff stamps, it is possible that the same double transfer may yet be noted on the 5 cent buff.
5 Cent Brown, Scott No. 76
The most common shade of the 5 cent 1861 is brown. Issued also in dark brown, pale brown, and black brown, this stamp is not difficult to find but, as is the case with nearly every denomination of this issue, it is far from easy to find a copy that is well-centered.
Scott’s Catalog currently records the earliest use of the Brown as Feb. 3, 1863. This stamp and a 10 cent 1861 were used on a cover from Dayton, Ohio to Hanover, Germany. Luff reported a use on July 18, 1863 from the Black Brown. The stamp was printed from plate 17 that produced all of the 5 Cent 1861 stamps.
5 Cent, Scott No. 76a
It has been found, in used condition, on laid paper but as such it is of the greatest rarity. Varieties known are double transfer of the top frame line, double transfer of the bottom frame line, and with a double transfer of both top and bottom frame lines.
As is the case of the buff and red brown stamps of this same design, the stamp is known on Patriotic cover.
Grilled Varieties
5 Cent, Scott No. 80Ea
5 Cent, Scott No. 95
5 Cent, Scott No. 95a
Proof, Specimen and Essay Varieties
5 Cent, Scott No. 76-P1
5 Cent, Scott No. 76-P1-2
5 Cent, Scott No. 76-P3
5 Cent, Scott No. 76-SB
5 Cent, Scott No. 76-SB
Postal History
1 cent, 3 cent and 5 Cent, Scott No. 95, August 19, 1868 to Natal, South Africa