# RM19R - 1765 1p British Revenue for Use in America, Pamphlet & Newspaper Stamp Reproduction

Own an 1876 Reprint of British “Stamp Act” Revenue
Produced for the Centennial Exhibition
Only One Available

The 1765 British Revenue “America” stamps were only on sale for five months, so few used examples are known.  Only a limited number of proofs remain for us today, and they can be difficult to find – Mystic has two available – RM15P and RM16P. 

Lucky for us collectors, the US Post Office Department had ambitious plans for the 1876 Centennial Exhibition.  They reprinted every stamp issued up to that point.  And that included this scarce British revenue stamp that had once incited colonists to protest against “taxation without representation.”  Luckily, you can own this 1876 reproduction for a fraction of the price of an original 1765 proof.  You’ll get all the intricate detail and history at a great price.  We only have one available – so you’ll want to act now to make it yours.

The “America” Newspaper Stamp

The Stamp Act applied a 1¢ tax per sheet on newspapers and required all newspapers to be printed on stamped paper from the government.  The design consisted of a mantle; St. Edward's Crown encircled by the Order of the Garter; and a scepter and sword.  At the top they inscribed "AMERICA"; at the bottom "ONE PENNY" and the number of the printing die (200 copper dies and eight plates were prepared).  Dark red proof impressions of the plates were made on thick laid paper before the stamped paper was produced.

The Infamous Stamp Act –
Rallying Colonists Toward Revolution

Great Britain had issued its first embossed revenue stamps for use in the United Kingdom in 1694.  Decades later, The Massachusetts and New York Colonies began producing their own embossed revenue stamp paper in the 1750s.  Since the end of the French and Indian War, the British Parliament had been looking for new ways to increase its revenues from overseas colonies.  Parliament reasoned that it was their right to impose a tax on the colonies to pay for the British troops that protected them. 

As a result, Parliament passed the Stamp Act on March 22, 1765, placing a direct tax on the colonies for the first time.  (The stamps would be effective November 1.)  It forced colonists to buy a British tax stamp for every official document they obtained.  Under this act, all types of printed material required a stamp showing that a tax had been paid.  These included newspapers, books, court documents, land deeds, almanacs, and playing cards.

Colonists were outraged and protested against taxation by Parliament, because they had no one to represent them.  In response British goods were boycotted, customhouses were vandalized, and tax collectors were attacked.  In England, merchants whose products were boycotted pressured Parliament to repeal the act. 

Colonists gathered in New York City on October 7, for the Stamp Act Congress.  The two-week meeting produced the Declaration of Rights and Grievances.  Among the documents’ 14 points were the colonists’ belief that they should be able to choose representatives to levy taxes, that all colonists had the right to trial by jury, and the economic consequences of the act (that the colonists would reduce trade with Britain).

While many in England refused to acknowledge the document, others were concerned over the threat of lost trade and rallied for Parliament to repeal the act, which they did on March 18, 1766.  However, they also passed the Declaratory Act, which claimed its authority to legislate the colonies no matter what. 

The Stamp Act Congress that was held as a result of the original British Revenue stamp this stamp was based on, and is often considered one of the first organized political actions of the American Revolution.