1866 $1 Beer Stamp, Black

Scott #REA5 is a $1 black engraved United States Internal Revenue beer tax stamp issued on September 1, 1866 — the very first day beer stamps were issued in America. The ornate circular design features elaborate scrollwork surrounding a central label reading "One Barrel," with "$1" denomination marks on either side and "One Dollar" on a ribbon at the bottom. Printed by the Treasury Department on thin paper in ungummed sheets, this stamp was sold directly to brewers to prepay the federal tax on a full barrel of beer.

The story behind this stamp begins with the Civil War. When the Union government desperately needed money to fund the war effort, Congress passed the Revenue Act of 1862, which established the first large-scale federal tax on beer — $1 per barrel, the same rate as hard liquor. For the first four years, brewers simply paid the tax in cash. When the war ended, the government kept the tax but introduced stamps as an accountability measure, requiring brewers to affix the appropriate stamp over the barrel's opening before shipment. When the keg was tapped, the stamp was destroyed — which is exactly why mint examples like this one are so scarce today.

The first two issues of beer stamps from 1866 and 1867 featured these striking circular designs, unique among all American revenue stamps. Because the stamps were printed on thin, fragile paper and intended to be physically destroyed in use, surviving mint examples with good centering are uncommon and highly prized by revenue stamp collectors. These stamps didn't even appear in the Scott Catalogue until 1994, adding to their appeal as a corner of American philately that many collectors are still discovering. This is a true piece of Civil War-era fiscal history.