15c Abraham Lincoln stamp

In 1866 the Post Office Department issued what is considered the nation's first commemorative stamp, the 15-cent Lincoln. It was the first stamp of that denomination issued by the United States, and Lincoln was the first person pictured on a postage stamp who would have seen the 1847 Issues. John Wilkes Booth had assassinated Lincoln on April 14, 1865.

The 15-cent denomination paid the single-weight rate to France or, in combination with other denominations, greater weight and foreign destination rates. After January 1, 1869, it could have paid the registered mail fee. Approximately 2,139,300 stamps of the 13-cent issue were printed by National Bank Note Company.

Alexander T. Haimann, National Postal Museum
May 16, 2006

Scott Catalogue USA: 77
unused; perf 12

Museum ID: 1980.2493.284