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Official stamps

In the 1870s, government departments lost the franking privilege.  Separate series of stamps were issued for each department's use.  Except for the issues of the Post Office Department, which feature only numerals, the stamps were patterned on the then-current "banknote" issues.

1873 issues, Continental Bank Note Company

Department of Justice

Offices of the Department of Justice were required to use these stamps on official mailings.

Although 1¢ through 90¢ issues were printed and the plate numbers used are known, the only reported sightings for any denomination for many years were for a plate block of 12 and a plate strip of 4 of the 10¢ issue.

Scott O26SD, 2¢ Department of Justice, specimen, Plate Number 90 B

Scott O27TC3, 3¢ Department of Justice trial color proof on india paper, Plate Number 28 T

Scott O28, 6¢ Department of Justice, Plate Number 77 B

Photographically cropped from the only known plate block.

Scott O29, 10¢ Department of Justice, Plate Number 97 T

Scott O30, 12¢ Department of Justice, top imprint pair

Scott O33, 30¢ Department of Justice, bottom imprint single

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This page last updated April 7, 2009.

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