United States Stamp Values

1861-62 Modified Designs Perforated 12

After the outbreak of the Civil War the government declared the existing stamps invalid for postage and quickly issued redesigned stamps. The designs of this series are similar enough to the old designs to be familiar, but nonetheless easily distinguished. These are the oldest United States stamps still valid for postage.

Denom.	Description	Mint	Used
1 cent	Franklin - blue	$125.00	$25.00
3 cent	Washington - pink	..	$465.00
3 cent	Washington - rose	$47.50	$1.65
5 cent	Jefferson - buff	..	..
10 cent	Washington - yellow green	$375.00	$28.50
12 cent	Washington - black	$750.00	$50.00
24 cent	Washington - red lilac	$900.00	$140.00
30 cent	Franklin - orange	$675.00	$95.00
90 cent	Washington - blue	$1,200.00	$240.00

1861-66 New Values or Colors

Marks the first appearances of Andrew Jackson and Abraham Lincoln on United States stamps.

Denom.	Description	Mint	Used
2 cent	Jackson - black	$145.00	$30.00
5 cent	Jefferson - red brown	$1,800.00	$275.00
5 cent	Jefferson - brown	$500.00	$75.00
15 cent	Lincoln - black	$1,150.00	$105.00
24 cent	Washington - lilac	$650.00	$90.00

About U.S. Stamp Grills

Between 1867 and 1871 the Post Office Department applied embossed impressions to its stamps in a process referred to as grilling. The function of the grill was to make it more difficult to wash off cancellations in order to reuse stamps. The extent to which reuse of stamps was an actual problem is not clear. The first grills covered the entire stamp, but later examples only cover part of the stamp. Depending on the condition of the stamp, a grill can be difficult to see and study. Grills are distinguished by the size of the embossed area and by the number of “points” in the grill. They are given the letter names Z, E, F, G, H and I.

In the rose color three cent Washington stamp pictured above the "A" grill is clearly visible from the front. Typically grills are not nearly this easy to see.

1867 Designs of 1861-66 with Grills

Feature the same designs as the 1861-1866 stamps shown above, but are differentiated by their grills.

Denom.	Description	Mint	Used
3 cent	Washington - rose - "A" Grill (all of stamp)	$2,300.00	$750.00
3 cent	Washington - rose - "C" Grill (13x16mm)	$2,250.00	$525.00
3 cent	Washington - rose - "D" Grill (12x14mm)	$2,500.00	$525.00
2 cent	Jackson - black - "Z" Grill (11x14mm)	..	$700.00
12 cent	Washington - black - "Z" Grill (11x14mm)	..	$1,150.00
1 cent	Franklin - blue - "E" Grill (11x13mm)	$1,250.00	$240.00
2 cent	Jackson - black - "E" Grill (11x13mm)	$600.00	$90.00
3 cent	Washington - rose - "E" Grill (11x13mm)	$375.00	$13.50
10 cent	Washington - green - "E" Grill (11x13mm)	$1,900.00	$165.00
12 cent	Washington - black - "E" Grill (11x13mm)	$1,800.00	$185.00
15 cent	Lincoln - black - "E" Grill (11x13mm)	..	$325.00
1 cent	Franklin - blue - "F" Grill (9x13mm)	$750.00	$240.00
2 cent	Jackson - black - "F" Grill (9x13mm)	$175.00	$32.50
3 cent	Washington - red - "F" Grill (9x13mm)	$140.00	$5.25
5 cent	Jefferson - brown - "F" Grill (9x13mm)	$1,200.00	$425.00
10 cent	Washington - yellow green - "F" Grill (9x13mm)	$1,000.00	$120.00
12 cent	Washington - black - "F" Grill (9x13mm)	$1,175.00	$140.00
15 cent	Lincoln - black - "F" Grill (9x13mm)	$1,350.00	$160.00
24 cent	Washington - gray lilac - "F" Grill (9x13mm)	$2,750.00	$625.00
30 cent	Franklin - orange - "F" Grill (9x13mm)	$2,750.00	$450.00
90 cent	Washington - blue - "F" Grill (9x13mm)	..	$900.00

1869 Pictorial Issue - Grilled

Sometimes said to be the first commemorative stamps (other times said to be the precursors to the commemoratives leaving the distinction of “first” to the 1893 Columbians) the 1869 Pictorials were the first stamps to include themes other than pictures of great Americans. The stamps featured trains, ships, the landing of Columbus, and the signing of the Declaration of Independence among its topics. The stamps were reportedly unpopular with the public and only sold for a year.

Denom.	Description	Mint	Used
1 cent	Franklin	$300.00	$85.00
2 cent	Horse & Rider	$265.00	$50.00
3 cent	Locomotive	$130.00	$11.00
6 cent	Washington	$1,150.00	$120.00
10 cent	Shield & Eagle	$800.00	$70.00
12 cent	"S.S. Adriatic"	$900.00	$80.00
15 cent	Columbus - Type I	$3,500.00	$350.00
15 cent	Columbus - Type II	$1,500.00	$140.00
24 cent	Declaration of Independence	$3,350.00	$375.00
30 cent	Shield - Eagle & Flags	$3,000.00	$275.00
90 cent	Lincoln	$4,000.00	$1,200.00

1875-81 Reissues without Grill

Denom.	Description	Mint	Used
1 cent	Franklin - hard white paper	$320.00	$185.00
2 cent	Horse & Rider - hard white paper	$360.00	$275.00
3 cent	Locomotive	$2,850.00	$38,000.00
6 cent	Washington	$960.00	$1,400.00
10 cent	Shield & Eagle	$960.00	$1,150.00
12 cent	"S.S. Adriatic"	$1,350.00	$2,050.00
15 cent	Columbus	$840.00	$630.00
24 cent	Declaration of Independence	$1,200.00	$830.00
30 cent	Shield - Eagle & Flags	$1,300.00	$1,600.00
90 cent	Lincoln	$2,100.00	$2,750.00
1 cent	Franklin - Buff - soft porous paper	$140.00	$130.00
1 cent	Brown orange (Without Gum)	$200.00	$120.00

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These prices for U.S. stamps are provided as a service to Hobbizine readers. They are derived from numerous sources such as dealer price lists, advertisements in philatelic publications, and public auction results. Use these values as a guideline for evaluating the reasonableness of dealer prices, setting up trades with other collectors, and estimating the worth of your collection. The value of an individual stamp is dependent on its centering and condition. The prices listed here are for well centered, undamaged stamps. A particularly nice example might sell for more than the amount listed, while a poor copy might be worth less.