The United States Pan American Postage Stamp Set of 1901
The Pan American Exposition stamp set was issued in 1901 to commemorate the Pan American Exposition in Buffalo, New York.
This was only the third set of commemorative stamps issued by the United States Post Office and the stamps were only available while the exposition was held from May 1, 1901 to October 31, 1901.
Fortunately for stamp collectors, the stamps were sold throughout the country.
Buffalo at the time was one of the largest cities in the US and had a booming economy supported by one of the nations top rail and water transport systems.
Fittingly, the Pan American Exposition stamps featured transportation themes.
The exposition had exhibits featuring various cultures from around the world such as "Fair Japan" and "African Village" as well as more fantastic displays such as "Trip to the Moon", Darkness and Dawn" and "Dreamland".
The Pan American Exposition was also infamous as being the spot that President William McKinley was shot and killed by an anarchist.
A boulder with an embedded plaque marks the spot to this day.
The stamp set consisted of six stamps.
The one cent stamp features a Great Lakes Steamer, the 225 foot "City of Alpena" a steamer that was built in 1880 and was used for transporting people and cargo across the Great Lakes.
The two cent stamp features a steam locomotive, the primary method of transportation across the United States in those days.
An early electric automobile is displayed on the four cent stamp (after 100 years, they're finally catching on!).
The five cent stamp features the Bridge at Niagara Falls.
Although not a method of transportation, the bridge was the largest single span steel bridge in the world at the time and was an important route between the United States and Canada.
The eight cent "Canal Locks at Sault Sainte Marie" stamp featured another important route between the United States and Canada.
The last stamp in the set, the ten cent American Line Steamship stamp, features the "St.
Paul" an ocean going steamship that was used for transport and also by the U.
S.
Navy in the Spanish American War.
These six stamps are not the only stamps that make up the set; three unintentional invert stamps were also produced.
The two colors of the stamps were produced by running the sheets through two different printing presses, each printing a separate color.
At some point the one cent, two cent and four cent stamps were run through the second press upside down, creating an inverted picture in the center of the stamp.
These stamps are quite rare, and can cost thousands of dollars in good condition.
This was only the third set of commemorative stamps issued by the United States Post Office and the stamps were only available while the exposition was held from May 1, 1901 to October 31, 1901.
Fortunately for stamp collectors, the stamps were sold throughout the country.
Buffalo at the time was one of the largest cities in the US and had a booming economy supported by one of the nations top rail and water transport systems.
Fittingly, the Pan American Exposition stamps featured transportation themes.
The exposition had exhibits featuring various cultures from around the world such as "Fair Japan" and "African Village" as well as more fantastic displays such as "Trip to the Moon", Darkness and Dawn" and "Dreamland".
The Pan American Exposition was also infamous as being the spot that President William McKinley was shot and killed by an anarchist.
A boulder with an embedded plaque marks the spot to this day.
The stamp set consisted of six stamps.
The one cent stamp features a Great Lakes Steamer, the 225 foot "City of Alpena" a steamer that was built in 1880 and was used for transporting people and cargo across the Great Lakes.
The two cent stamp features a steam locomotive, the primary method of transportation across the United States in those days.
An early electric automobile is displayed on the four cent stamp (after 100 years, they're finally catching on!).
The five cent stamp features the Bridge at Niagara Falls.
Although not a method of transportation, the bridge was the largest single span steel bridge in the world at the time and was an important route between the United States and Canada.
The eight cent "Canal Locks at Sault Sainte Marie" stamp featured another important route between the United States and Canada.
The last stamp in the set, the ten cent American Line Steamship stamp, features the "St.
Paul" an ocean going steamship that was used for transport and also by the U.
S.
Navy in the Spanish American War.
These six stamps are not the only stamps that make up the set; three unintentional invert stamps were also produced.
The two colors of the stamps were produced by running the sheets through two different printing presses, each printing a separate color.
At some point the one cent, two cent and four cent stamps were run through the second press upside down, creating an inverted picture in the center of the stamp.
These stamps are quite rare, and can cost thousands of dollars in good condition.
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