The three cent 1861 was the workhorse of the U.S. postage stamps throughout most of the 1860s, because it represented prepayment of the domestic single letter rate during most of the period. The only domestic single letter rates that were not three cents were the ten cent across-the-Rockies rate which lasted until July 1, 1863 and the drop or local letter rate. The three cent 1861, a product of the National Bank Note Co., came into being in August of 1861 along with seven other denominations with new designs which distinguished them from the demonetized previous issue. The demonetization of the previous designs was done in order to prevent the use of US stamps by citizens of the seceded states during of the Civil War. During the late summer and fall of 1861, when post offices received their initial supply of the new stamps, they advertised in the local newspaper announcing a six day period in which citizens could exchange their old stamps for new ones. During this short period, stamps of both designs were valid for postage; after the exchange period, the old stamps were worthless. Figure 1 is a double rate cover mailed during the exchange period when both stamps were valid; the stamp on the right is the new design, mailed from Otter River, Mass., Sept. 19, 1861.

Figure 1

All the stamps of the 1861 issue were designed by James Macdonough, Secretary of the National Bank Note Co. The images were completed by a team of specialized engravers. The three cent stamp was printed on plates of 200 subjects which were transferred from a single engraved die. The first printing of the 1861 issue, known as the Premier Gravure, was a set of sample sheets supplied to the U.S. Post Office Department to demonstrate manufacturing competence. Most of the issued stamp designs were altered slightly so that the samples (some of which were flawed) would not be issued to the public. Figure 2 shows the three cent Premier Gravure beside the actually issued stamp. The issued stamp, on the right, exhibits the design changes on the corners.

Figure 2

The three cent 1861 is a popular stamp for specialists because there are an infinite number of varieties and uses to collect The stamp varieties include shades, paper, perforation, plate and printing. Over 50 different color shades of the three cent 1861 have been identified; it seems that, every time a new batch of ink was mixed, a new shade appeared. The most sought after shades are the pinks, rose pinks and the elusive pigeon blood pink, but many other shades are interesting and collectible. Figure 3 shows the difference between the pink and lake brown shades and demonstrates the wide variance in colors to be found.

Figure 3

Plate varieties, such as double transfers and cracks are difficult to find because the National Bank Note Co. performed high quality work, but a few examples can be found with a good magnifying glass and a lot of patience. Printing varieties are also uncommon, but the occasional smear or short printing can be found. Such paper varieties as stitch watermarks and laid paper are rare; the grey paper of late 1862 is also quite scarce, and papers of various thicknesses can be found. Figure 4 is a comparison of the grey paper to the standard paper.

Figure 4

Perforation varieties are easy to spot because they usually involve the entire stamp. Figure 5 is a double perforation resulting from the sheet of stamps being run through the perforating machine twice.

Figure 5

The study of cancellations on the three cent 1861 can be exhaustive unto itself. Date stamps are used to make calendars, colored cancels are highly sought after, and fancy cancels depicting everything from geometric designs to animals to patriotic themes can always be found in the philatelic marketplace. Figure 6 is a mix of colored cancels and Figure 7 is a fancy patriotic star with "UNION" spelled out in the points.

Figure 6

Figure 7

For the postal historian, the three cent 1861 offers limitless possibilities. In domestic mail, collectible usages include multiple rates, distance rates, local rates, circular rates, registered mail, forwarded mail, missent mail, returned mail and a plethora of others. In foreign mail, the three cent 1861 was often used to make up the constantly changing rates for letters to dozens of foreign countries. In addition, the Civil War, alone, offers a lifetime of collecting and research. Figure 8 is a cover that represents multiple uses; it was mailed from Clarendon Springs, Vt. on July 3, c1865, to East Henrietta, NY from which it was forwarded to Detroit on July 8. At Henrietta, it received the handstamp, "HAVE YOUR/LETTERS DIRECTED/TO YOUR/STREET & NUMBER" referring to free city delivery which began on July 1, 1863. Also, at Henrietta, it was marked "Ford 3c Due" in manuscript for the forwarding fee. At Detroit, it was stamped "DUE/3/CENT" (for the same forwarding fee) and July 11. This cover has a routing notation, "not 5" (carrier route #5). A nice fancy cancel, socked on the nose of the stamp, completes the picture of a cover that could satisfy many collecting interests.

Figure 8

Figure 9 is a cover sent from New York to Liverpool, England, franked with a pair of ten cent stamps, plus a three cent and a one cent making up the 24 cent Anglo-American treaty rate, paid to destination. The New York exchange office marking shows a 19 cent credit to England, indicating ocean transit by British contract steamer.

Figure 9

When the Civil broke out in 1861, it necessitated the creation of a number of new ways of handling the U.S. Mail. Soldiers and sailors (but not officers) were given the privilege of sending letters unpaid, with postage due to the addressee. They also were given free forwarding. Also, mail to the seceded states was suspended, but when southern towns were occupied by Union troops, some of their post offices were reopened to facilitate the handling of soldiers' mail. These occupation post offices were set up for soldiers' mail only. In all, about 60 of these occupation offices, in various southern states, were reopened during the war, and most were supplied with government handstamps and US postage stamps. Covers from these offices are sometimes erroneously identified as Confederate use of US stamps. Figure 10 is a hand decorated cover mailed from the Union occupation post office in Norfolk, Va. on June 16, 1864, from a soldier in the 3rd N.Y. Regt. to Rome, N.Y.

Figure 10

Another area of interest for three cent 1861 collectors is Civil War prison mail. There are covers known to or from at least 40 southern prisons and 80 northern prisons, but in many cases, only a single cover has survived. Prisoners' mail, along with civilian through-the-lines mail, was subject to a number of rules intended to facilitate efficient censorship. Figure 11 is a cover that originated at the Union prison at Fort Delaware near Delaware City, Del. It is addressed to Newbern, Va. and is endorsed, "Via Richmond/per Flag of Truce." "Flag of Truce" refers to the Flag of Truce Boat which carried mail, and sometimes passengers, between exchange points in the North and in the South. The North's exchange point was usually Fortress Monroe, near Old Point Comfort, Va., and the South's exchange point varied along the James River from Norfolk to Richmond. The stamps on the cover in Figure 11 are a three cent 1861, which paid the postage from Delaware City to Old Point Comfort, and the ten cent Confederate, which paid the postage from Richmond to Newbern. Both stamps are tied by the Richmond and Delaware City postmarks.

Figure 11

In 1867, the U.S. Post Office Department began issuing postage stamps embossed with rows of small indentations, the purpose of which was to weaken the fibers of the paper so that canceling ink would soak in and prevent cleaning and reuse of postage stamps. These patterns of indentations are called grills. There are seven different sizes of grills found on the 1861 issue, varying from the all-over A grill to the small F grill (about 12 x 17 rows of points). The different grills are designated by letters and differentiated by dimensions in rows of points. All seven grill types occur on the three cent stamp. Figure 12 shows typical grills, the E grill (14 x 17 rows) on the left and the F grill (12 X 17 rows) on the right.

Figure 12

We've only scratched the surface in this discussion of the three cent 1861. There were almost two billion issued, so they are within the reach of all collectors, but there are enough challenges and rarities to satisfy the most advanced specialists.

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