1861 BENJAMIN FRANKLIN 1 CENT BLUE SCOTT #63

  When the Civil War began in 1861, all U.S. Stamps then in print were declared no longer valid for postage, so the stamps could not be used by the Confederates. A reasonable amount of time was granted, after hostilities broke out, for Unionists to exchange the old stamps for a new series that was quickly printed and released on August 17, 1861.
  The Confederacy was anxious to set up its own postal service. Southerners feared the federal government would use the postal system to spread anti-Southern propaganda, So the Confederate States of America declared U.S. postage stamps invalid and rushed to produce its own stamps.
  This Benjamin Franklin 1 cent stamp was the first U.S. stamp printed to replace all other postage in 1861.  Offered on a 7 day auction beginning 10-3-13, and starting at 99 cents.
  To go to auction   click here.