Domestic Rates

The 5c Jefferson stamp was intended for the prepayment of the registration fee, but was not generally used or required for that purpose as the fee was generally paid in cash. As a result covers paying the domestic rate of a single 5¢ stamp are rare.

Foreign Rates

The 1857-58 5¢ stamps were primarily used for international mail, particularly to France. The 5c denomination paid the domestic postage portion for letters going to a foreign country if that mail was carried by British packet boats for transport. (Fees for shipping and land transport were paid by the recipient when the letter reached him or her at its destination.) By the late 1850s, it was also used to pay for registration services on mail sent abroad.

The mail to France commonly had strip of three to pay the postage to France or as a make-up rate in addition to the 10c value. It is common to see New Orleans postmarks due to the amount of trade New Orleans and France.