US Stamps
U.S. 2006 $1 Official mail stamp in demand

Stamp Market Tips by Henry Gitner
and Rick Miller
Most collectors of U.S. stamps start
out with their focus on regular postage. But as empty spaces grow fewer and the
stamps needed to fill them become more expensive, most collectors eventually
find their way to the back-of-the-book where the special purpose stamps reside.
Official mail stamps are denizens of
the back-of-the-book. Official mail stamps were issued as an accounting device
for franking mail from government agencies or elected representatives in the
government. Mail relating solely to the business of the U.S. government was
authorized by law to be carried in the mail without prepayment of postage.
Official mail stamps replaced the
franking privilege on July 1, 1873. The first U.S. Official mail stamps were
issued for departmental use, and the designs were inscribed with the name of
the department to which they were issued. Later, stamps usable by all
authorized departments and agencies were produced.
One surprisingly elusive modern
Official mail stamp is the $1 Great Seal of the United States stamp (Scott
O161) issued Sept. 29, 2006. The Scott Specialized Catalogue of United
States Stamps and Covers values the stamp at $5 in mint, never-hinged
condition and very fine grade. A mint pane of 20 is valued at $100. Mint
singles are in demand and are selling for $4 to $5. But the mint pane of 20 is
in even higher demand and is selling at or near Scott catalog value.
The Scott U.S. Specialized catalog notes that No. O161 has a solid blue background, while an earlier $1 stamp with a similar design (O151) has a background of crosshatched lines. The earlier stamp was issued in panes of 100, and that format of No. O151 is also in demand.
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