O127/133 – 1983-85 Official Mail, Set of 7 Stamps

1983-1985 U.S. Officials – Collection of 7 Stamps

Missing from Many Collections!

You’ll receive:

O127

O128

O129

O129A

O130

O132

O133

Official Mail stamps are genuine postage stamps, although they were never available at any post office. These unique stamps are called Officials because their use was strictly limited to government mail.  Before 1873, government agencies had franking privileges. This meant that government mail could be sent free of postage as long as it bore an authorized signature on the envelope. As of July 1, 1873, franking privileges were discontinued and special official stamps were put into circulation for use on government mail.

In 1983, the problem of government postage accountability came up once again.  As a result, the USPS issued six new Official stamps on January 12 of that year.  The new stamps weren’t department-specific and didn’t duplicate previous designs.  Instead, they pictured the Great Seal of the United States and the words, “Penalty for private use $300.”