1878 $1 Beer Stamp, Red, Light Blue Paper, Plate & Position Number

This a U.S. Internal Revenue Beer Stamp from the Series of 1878, issued for one barrel of beer with a tax of $1.00.

After the Civil War, the federal government relied heavily on excise taxes for revenue, and beer was a major contributor. To collect the tax, breweries were required to purchase these large-format, highly ornate stamps from the government and affix them to each container—often barrels—before shipment.

This $1 stamp covered the tax for a full barrel, while other denominations (like 50¢ for half barrels and 16⅔¢ for one-sixth barrels) were used for different sizes. The portrait on your stamp is President Andrew Johnson, a common figure on tax stamps of this era.

Engraved by the Bureau of Engraving & Printing in rich colors—here, a green-blue center with red ornamental border.  It's a large size (often 4–5 inches across) so it couldn’t be easily removed or reused.  This stamp also has highly decorative scrollwork and bold lettering to deter counterfeiting.

These stamps were meant to be destroyed when the barrel was emptied, so surviving examples are far fewer than postage stamps of the same era.  Many are damaged from removal; intact, vibrant examples are prized.  Beer Tax Stamps are popular with both revenue stamp collectors and breweriana enthusiasts.

Each stamp is a relic of an era when federal revenue came from tangible goods, and beer brewing was a booming, tax-heavy business.