1878 33 1/3c Beer Tax Stamp,violet on green paper

1878 33-1/3¢ black and violet on green paper Beer stamps.

Mint Beer Revenue Stamps – Now Over 140 Years Old
The Civil War caused sweeping changes in our nation – including the introduction of the first Revenue taxes to help pay off the federal government’s war debt.  Beer, which until then had only been taxed indirectly, was taxed at $1 per barrel – an...  more

1878 33-1/3¢ black and violet on green paper Beer stamps.

Mint Beer Revenue Stamps – Now Over 140 Years Old
The Civil War caused sweeping changes in our nation – including the introduction of the first Revenue taxes to help pay off the federal government’s war debt.  Beer, which until then had only been taxed indirectly, was taxed at $1 per barrel – an amount equal to hard liquor. 

Printed by the Treasury Department on thin paper, Beer Revenue stamps were sold to brewers in full, ungummed sheets.  The stamps were placed over the barrel’s openings, forming a seal, before the beer was shipped.

Because the seals were broken when the kegs were tapped, Beer Revenue stamps were destroyed upon use.  And mint examples that survive tend to have small faults due to the fragile paper they were printed on.  So finding these Civil War-era stamps in mint condition with very good centering is uncommon – and a great opportunity for you to expand your Revenue stamp collection.

Order yours today in mint condition with very fine centering and ungummed as issued.