This Listing is for ONE NEW Miniature Souvenir Sheet of CIPEX 5¢ + 10¢ Imperforate Stamps from 1947, featuring America's first two postage stamps from 1847 (Ben Franklin & George Washington).

Original gum. From a Smoke-free and Pet-free Environment.


The U.S. Postal Service issued this CIPEX gummed 5¢ + 10¢ imperforate mini souvenir sheet on May 19, 1947 at the Centenary International Philatelic Exhibition in New York, NY. The sheet measures 2 5/8" by 3 7/8", and includes reproductions of the first 1847 Ben Franklin postage stamp (originally in red brown) and the second 1847 George Washington stamp (originally in black). The engraving for the stamps was done by Asher B. Durand, a well-known American landscape painter - who based the Ben Franklin portrait on a drawing by James Longacre, and based George Washington on an unfinished portrait of Washington by Gilbert Stuart. Both of these stamps are considered to be valid U.S. postage when cut from the souvenir sheet. America's first postage stamps were also issued as imperforate (without perforations); and postal clerks had to separate them with a pair of scissors. 


This CIPEX issue was released to celebrate the 100th Anniversary (Centenary) of the first U.S. postage stamps from 1847. This limited edition souvenir sheet was never sold at post offices throughout the country, but could only be obtained from the Philatelic Sales Unit of the NYC Post Office.

The first postage stamps of the United States, the 5¢ Franklin and 10¢ Washington issues, were first sold on July 1, 1847, the beginning of a new era in mail service. Before adhesive stamps revolutionized the US postal system, letters were marked “Paid” by pen-and-ink and by various hand-stamping devices. The 5¢ issue of 1847 (Scott #1) honors Benjamin Franklin, credited with organizing America’s postal service back in the 1700s. On July 26, 1775, he was appointed by the Continental Congress as the first postmaster general of the confederation – which was of great importance to communications during the Revolutionary War. The 10¢ issue of 1847 (Scott #2) honors George Washington, Revolutionary War hero and the first U.S. president.


Scott # 948



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