The first "official seal" of the United States was the green Registry Seal, issued in 1872. It was intended to be used as a security device to seal the backflaps of special "Registered Package Envelopes" to prevent tampering with the enclosed registered letters, which often contained cash. The need for the use of Registry Seals ended after only three years, when a new envelope design was introduced that did not require that a label be used to secure the flap.
Date issued: 1872
Printing: Green on white wove paper
Perforation: 12
Inscription: "POST / OFFICE / DEPARTMENT / UNITED / STATES / OF AMERICA / * STAMP HERE * / DATE AND PLACE OF MAILING" with the word "REGISTERED" in large letters across face
Control Number: None
Description: Mint single. Date issued: 1872
Printing: Green on white wove paper
Perforation: 12
Inscription: "POST / OFFICE / DEPARTMENT / UNITED / STATES / OF AMERICA / * STAMP HERE * / DATE AND PLACE OF MAILING" with the word "REGISTERED" in large letters across face
Control Number: None
Description: Registry seal with March 7, (1874) Wells, VT circular datestamp on reverse of first type Registered Package Envelope, printed by Morgan Envelope Company of Springfield, CT. Morgan pouches can be easily recognized by the serifed "REGISTERED PACKAGE" font on the seal side. They also bear the name "W.H.H. Terrell, Third Assistant Postmaster General" on the reverse. Date issued: 1872
Printing: Green on white wove paper
Perforation: 12
Inscription: "POST / OFFICE / DEPARTMENT / UNITED / STATES / OF AMERICA / * STAMP HERE * / DATE AND PLACE OF MAILING" with the word "REGISTERED" in large letters across face
Control Number: None
Description: Registry seal with May 14, (1874) Elizabethtown, NY circular datestamp on reverse of second type Registered Package Envelope, printed by George Nesbitt & Company of New York. Nesbitt pouches can be distinguished by the sans-serif "REGISTERED PACKAGE" font on the seal side. They also have the name "E.W. Barber, Third Assistant Postmaster General" on the reverse. Updated May 25, 2008
Catalog: Scott #OXF1
Catalog: Scott #OXF1
Catalog: Scott #OXF1
© Copyright 2003-2008
- Buying, Selling, & Trading Officially Sealed Mails of the World -
by T. Hirn
E-mail:thirn@poseal.com