By an Act of Congress passed in 1845, and continuing thru the life of the 1847 issue, 5c was the single letter rate for all distances not over three hundred miles.

Under the powers given him by the Act of 1847, the Postmaster-General entered into a contract with Rawdon, Wright, Hatch, and Edson, which was located in New York City and was well and favorably known as Bank Note engravers. No details of this contract are known. It seems reasonable to assume that it contained provisions for the production of stamps of the 5¢ and l0¢ denominations, under specific regulations and conditions, at a specified cost per thousand.

Although the drop rate of letters at the time was 2¢ it was decided not to issue a stamp for this value, which would have to wait until the 1¢ issue of 1851.

Benjamin Franklin was chosen as the vignette subject as he was considered the father of the Post Office and the first Post Master General.

Due to production delays, there were only sufficient stamps to deliver to the New York post office on the official day of introduction, July 1st, 1847. Boston was the second post office to receive a delivery on July 2nd, 1847. The first purchaser was reputedly Congressman Harvey Shaw of Connecticut.

By an Act of Congress passed in 1845, and continuing thru the life of the stamp, black ink used on the 1847 10¢ was of satisfactory quality. However, back in those days, colored inks were of more inferior quality. The ink used on this 5¢ was manufactured with earthen pigments, sienna, or umber, which always contributes to rapid plate wear and a poor impression on the stamp. One reason was that the ink used was contaminated with quartz, as during the time, mineral inks almost always contained it to a certain degree. Black ink is made from carbon and causes little wear.

The earliest documented use of #1 is July 7th, 1847 (shown above)

The 7 bar red grid precancel of Wheeling, Virginia.