The Genesis of American Philately: The 1847 Benjamin Franklin 5-Cent Stamp

Historical and Iconographic Overview

The issuance of the 1847 series was authorized by an Act of Congress on March 3, 1847. The Post Office Department awarded the printing contract to the prestigious New York City banknote engraving firm Rawdon, Wright, Hatch & Edson (RWH&E).

The Subject: Benjamin Franklin was the choice for the inaugural 5-cent denomination. Known as the "Father of the American Postal Service," Franklin served as a deputy postmaster under the British Crown and was later appointed the first Postmaster General by the Continental Congress in 1775. His portrait on this stamp is based on a drawing by James Longacre, which was itself derived from a 1777 plaster bust by Jean-Jacques Caffieri.

Category: Definitive Postage Stamp
Information & Inscriptions:

Issuer: United States Post Office Department.

Printer: Rawdon, Wright, Hatch & Edson (initials "R. W. H. & E." are inscribed at the very bottom center of the stamp).

Top Inscription: "U POST OFFICE S" (The "U" and "S" are nestled in the upper corners).

Bottom Inscription: "FIVE CENTS".

Numerals: The large numeral "5" appears in both lower corners.

Technical Details: The stamp was printed using the flat-plate method on thin, bluish-wove paper. It is "imperforate," meaning it was issued in sheets without holes; postal clerks had to use scissors to cut individual stamps for customers.

Usage: The 5-cent rate covered a single-sheet letter weighing up to a half-ounce for distances under 300 miles.

The Printer’s Legacy:
Interestingly, RWH&E utilized existing "stock" dies they had previously used for banknotes to speed up production. This is why the engraving quality of the 1847 issue is considered superior to many contemporary international issues—it was executed with the same security-level precision used for paper currency.