The 1847 Issue
The First General Issue of United States Postage Stamps

Such a monumental event!
Yet on the day of issue, the stamps were
only delivered to one U.S Post Office!

This stamp was the first postage stamp ever issued by the United States Government. It was created to alliviate complications in figuring and understanding postage rates. Prior to 1845, U.S. postage rates were excessively high and complex for the public to comprehend. The Act of March 3, 1847 redeemed the situation by specifying that the public could mail letters for any distance up to 300 miles at 5c per half ounce, and 10c for any distance over 300 miles. 

Such a monumental event! The Postmaster General authorized the use of the 1847 Issue starting on July 1, 1847. The U.S. Government intended that these stamps would be available in at least the most important Post Offices on the day that the Act was to go into effect. However, on the day of issue, the stamps were only delivered to one office, the New York City Office! Delays in production prevented the delivery of stamps to the other offices. Therefore, there is no evidence of any use of the stamp on July 1, 1847. It is believed that Congressman Harvey Shaw was the first purchaser of the 1847 stamps. He apparantly bought a 5c for himself and a 10c for the Governor of Connecticut.but no evidence proves that the stamp was actually used on that date.

Up until 1990, the first known used 1847 Issue wasn't until July 10, 1847. However, in 1990 a cover dated July 2, 1847, was found with two 10c 1847 Issue stamps. This is the earliest known use of the U.S. Postage Stamp. Christie's Robson Lowe published a catalog auctioning off this cover — Price Realized was over $100,000 USD.

The Act of March 3, 1843 states:

"And be it further enacted, that to facilitate the transportation of letters by mail, the Postmaster-General be authorized to prepare postage stams, which when attached to any letter or packet, shall be evidence of prepayment of the postage chargeable on such letter...

This Act was to take effect on July 1, 1847, and from this date on, the use of any postage stamps not authorized by the Postmaster-General became illegal.