Americana series

The Americana series was a series of United States definitive postage stamps issued between 1975 and 1981. Denominations ranged from one cent to five dollars. It superseded the Prominent Americans series, and was in turn superseded by the Great Americans series and the Transportation coils.

The issue was notable for its distinctive style, with text (generally relating to American history or freedoms) along two sides of the stamp. While the stamps were not part of the Bicentennial Series of stamps issued from 1971-1983, the historical theme fit in well. The twenty sheet stamps, placed in denomination order in blocks of four, form five blocks of four all with text entirely on the outside. Three of the blocks have themes: The first, "Roots of Democracy", the second and third lack themes, the fourth, "Pioneer America", and the fifth, "America's Light".

Among philatelists, the series is most famous for the CIA invert. An invert error of the $1 lamp stamp, it was so named because the original sheet was bought by a CIA employee who had gone to the post office to buy some stamps.

The 16 cent and the 29 cent were issued for a proposed, but never implemented "business rate" for first class mail, which was to be higher than the personal rate (only letters with handwritten addresses would be eligible for the lower rate). The proposed rate was rejected by the Postal Rate Commission which chose instead a 15 cent rate (for two ounces, 28 cents) for all mail. Since the 16 and 29 cent stamps satisfied no rate, and were not a convenient round number, they saw little use.

The design for the 1 cent stamp was originally designated for a never-issued 26 cent stamp.

Many of the stamps were issued in mid-November in New York City. At the time, it was usual to have a stamp issuance during the annual stamp show for the American Stamp Dealers Association, which was then held in mid-November in New York City. The March stamps issued in New York were issued at the ASDA-sponsored INTERPEX show.

The series was the first omnibus definitive series in U.S. history not to include a five cent stamp.

Denominations, subject, inscription, place and date of issue

Sheet stamps:
*1 cent, quill pen and inkwell, "The Ability to Write * A Root of Democracy", St. Louis MO, Dec. 8, 1977
*2 cent, speaker's stand, "Freedom To Speak Out * A Root of Democracy", St. Louis MO, Dec. 8, 1977
*3 cent, ballot box, "To Cast A Free Ballot * A Root of Democracy", St. Louis MO, Dec. 8, 1977
*4 cent, books and eyeglasses, "A Public That Reads * A Root of Democracy", St. Louis MO, Dec. 8, 1977
*9 cent, (gray paper) Capitol dome, "Right of People Peaceably to Assemble", Washington DC, Nov. 24, 1975
*10 cent, head of statue of Justice, "People's Right To Petition For Redress", New York NY, Nov. 17, 1977
*11 cent, early printing press, "Liberty Depends on Freedom of the Press", Philadelphia PA, Nov. 13, 1975
*12 cent, torch of Statue of Liberty, "Freedom of Conscience * An American Right", Dallas TX, April 8, 1981
*13 cent, Liberty Bell, "Proclaim Liberty Throughout the Land", Cleveland OH, Oct. 31, 1975
*13 cent, eagle and shield, "One Nation Indivisible * E Pluribus Unum", Juneau AK, Dec. 1, 1975
*15 cent, American Flag, "The Land of the Free * The Home of the Brave", Baltimore MD, June 30, 1978
*16 cent, head of Statue of Liberty, "I Lift My Lamp Beside the Golden Door", New York NY, Mar. 31, 1978
*24 cent, Old North Church, "Midnight Ride * One if by Land, Two if by Sea", Boston MA, Nov. 14, 1975
*28 cent, Fort Nisqually, Washington, "Lonely Outpost * New Nation Building Westward", Tacoma WA, Aug. 11, 1978
*29 cent, Sandy Hook lighthouse, "Lonely Beacon Protecting Those Upon the Sea", Atlantic City NJ, Apr. 14, 1978
*30 cent, one room schoolhouse, "American Schools * Laying Future Foundations", Devils Lake ND, Aug. 27, 1979
*50 cent, Betty lamp, "America's Light Sustained by Love of Liberty", San Juan PR, Sep. 11, 1979
*$1, rush lamp, "America's Light Fueled by Truth and Reason", San Francisco CA and nationwide, July 2, 1999
*$2, kerosene lamp, "America's Light Will Shine Over All the Land", New York NY, Nov. 16, 1978
*$5, lantern, "America's Light Leads Her Generations Onward", Boston MA, Aug. 23, 1979

Coil stamps:
*1 cent, quill pen and inkwell, "The Ability to Write * A Root of Democracy", New York, NY, Mar. 6, 1980
*3.1 cent, guitar, "Listen With Love to the Music of the Land", Shreveport LA, Oct. 25, 1979
*3.5 cent, violins, "The Music of America is Freedom's Symphony", Williamsburg PA, June 23, 1980
*7.7 cent, saxhorns, "Marching in Step to the Music of the Union", New York NY, Nov. 20, 1976
*7.9 cent, drum, "Beat the Drum for Liberty and the Spirit of 76", Miami FL, Apr. 23, 1976
*8.4 cent, piano, "Peace Unites a Nation Like Harmony in Music", Interlochen MI, July 13, 1978
*9 cent, (gray paper) Capitol dome, "Right of People Peaceably to Assemble", Milwaukee WI, Mar. 5, 1978
*10 cent, head of statue of Justice, "People's Right To Petition For Redress", Tampa FL, Nov. 4, 1977
*12 cent, torch of Statue of Liberty, "Freedom of Conscience * An American Right", Dallas TX, April 8, 1981
*13 cent, Liberty Bell, "Proclaim Liberty Throughout the Land", Allentown PA, Nov. 25, 1975
*15 cent, American Flag, "The Land of the Free * The Home of the Brave", Baltimore MD, June 30, 1978
*16 cent, head of Statue of Liberty, "I Lift My Lamp Beside the Golden Door", New York NY, Mar. 31, 1978

Stamps issued only within booklets:
*9 cent (white paper, issued only with seven 13 cent Flag over Capitol stamps in a vending machine booklet), New York, NY, March 11, 1977

References

* Scott catalogue

These images of the 1c to 4c values arranged to show how the text inscriptions work.