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Introduction
to RI Postal History First Day & Event Covers Stampless Covers - Pre 1847 1846-1900 Issues 1901-1950 Issues 1951 to Present Air Mail Issues Postal Stationary Post Cards Parcel Post & Special Delivery Revenue & Postage Due Registered & Official Mail Cancellations Wildlife & Game Permits Commercial & Advertising Complete List of all RI Issues Return to RI Postal History |
REGISTERED AND OFFICIAL MAIL Official Mail (Post Office Department) - 1873-1879
Official Stamps were authorized by Congress on March 3, 1873. On May 1, 2025 the Official Stamps were replaced by Penalty Envelopes and were declared obsolete on July 5, 1884. The stamps were issued for the departments of Agriculture, Interior, Justice, Navy, State, Treasury, War and the Executive and Post Office Departments. They were issued in denominations from 1 cent to $5.00. The Post Office Department Officials were issued in denominations from 1 to 90 cents. All of the other department's official stamps have the same busts, (portraits) as regular mail issues for similar denominations. The Post Office Officials were the only issues that did not use a bust in the center vignette as shown above. Town Cancellations on official mail, especially the 1873 issues are much scarcer than on general issues of the period.
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was added on February 14, 2026 |