1866 15-Cent Lincoln Black Stamp (Scott #77): The Mourning Issue Collector's Guide

Among the stamps of the 1860s series, the 1866 15-cent black Abraham Lincoln stamp (Scott #77) holds a uniquely poignant position in American philatelic history. Released in April 1866, just one year after Lincoln's assassination, this stamp has been called the "mourning stamp" for generations, despite official ambiguity about whether that was the Post Office Department's actual intent. Whatever the original purpose, the mythology has become inseparable from the stamp's identity.

Historical Context

Abraham Lincoln was assassinated on April 14, 1865, and died the following morning. The nation was stunned, and the mourning period was intense and prolonged. The Post Office Department issued several stamps featuring Lincoln's portrait in the immediate postwar era.

The 15-cent stamp of the 1861-66 series had originally featured a different design. In April 1866, a new 15-cent stamp featuring Lincoln was issued, printed in black by the National Bank Note Company.

The postal rate connection: The 15-cent denomination was the rate for mail to France and Prussia (two of the major trading partners of the era). It wasn't the standard domestic first-class rate, which makes the "mourning" interpretation slightly complicated from a strict postal history perspective.

The mourning interpretation: Black was, in 1866, universally associated with mourning in American and European culture. Issuing a 15-cent stamp in black with Lincoln's portrait, barely a year after his assassination, was almost certainly not accidental. Whether the Post Office Department explicitly intended it as a mourning gesture or the design choice simply reflected the cultural moment, the result was a stamp that resonated deeply with a grieving nation.

The Smithsonian's National Postal Museum explicitly recognizes this stamp in the context of Lincoln's assassination and the national mourning period, lending institutional weight to the traditional interpretation.

The 1861-66 Series Context

Scott #77 belongs to the 1861-66 definitive series, which includes:

Scott #	Denomination	Design	Notes
#63	1 cent	Franklin
#65	3 cents	Washington	Most common
#67	5 cents	Jefferson
#68	10 cents	Washington
#73	2 cents	Jackson	Rare
#77	15 cents	Lincoln (Black)	The mourning stamp
#78	24 cents	Washington
#79	30 cents	Franklin

Scott #77 was printed in relatively modest quantities compared to the common 3-cent Washington. The National Postal Museum notes a quantity printed of approximately 2,139,000 stamps, formatted in sheets of 200 divided into vertical panes.

Current Market Values

Used Examples:

Grade	Approximate Value
Good (G, clear cancel, faults)	$20 - $60
Fine (F, light cancel)	$75 - $200
Very Fine (VF, light cancel, well centered)	$200 - $500
Extremely Fine (XF)	$500 - $1,500

Unused Examples:

Grade	Approximate Value
No Gum, Fine	$100 - $300
OG, Hinged, Fine	$300 - $800
OG, Hinged, Very Fine	$800 - $2,000
OG, NH, Fine	$1,500 - $5,000
OG, NH, VF	$5,000 - $15,000

These are approximate values; catalog prices and actual sales can vary, and exceptional examples in particular can exceed these ranges significantly.

Condition Standards for Classic US Issues

For Victorian-era US stamps, condition standards follow these definitions:

Fine (F): Margins that are reasonably large and clear of the design, but not perfectly centered. The standard grade that most well-preserved used copies achieve.

Very Fine (VF): Design well centered within large, even margins. A quality copy of any difficult early US stamp.

Extremely Fine (XF): Almost perfectly centered, large margins, exceptional example. These are genuinely rare for most 1860s stamps.

Superb (SUP): Perfect or near-perfect centering, extremely large margins. Essentially a theoretical maximum achieved by only the rarest examples.

For used copies, the cancellation character matters enormously. A light, dated town cancellation that doesn't obscure the portrait and shows legible geographic information adds appeal. Manuscript (pen) cancellations are generally considered less desirable. Heavy or smeared cancellations reduce value.

The Grill Varieties

An important complexity for collectors of this issue: the Civil War-era government applied various "grills" (embossed patterns) to some stamps in an attempt to prevent stamp washing and reuse. Scott #77 exists in both ungilled form and with specific grill varieties:

• Scott #77 (no grill)

• Scott #77a (grill with points down)

The grilled varieties (#77a) are scarcer and catalog at higher values. When buying, verify whether an example is grilled or ungrilled, as this affects value.

Postal History and Cover Usage

Scott #77 used on cover (attached to an original envelope) is significantly more valuable than single used examples. Particularly desirable:

• 1866 dated covers (earliest documented use April 1866)

• Covers to France or Prussia (the intended rate)

• Combination frankings with other 1860s stamps

• Ship mail cancellations indicating international mail

• CSA or transitional period uses (Southern destinations in the immediate postwar period)

A Scott #77 on cover to France in fine condition would represent a meaningful upgrade in value over a single used copy.

Expertization

For copies above $300 in value, expertization by the Philatelic Foundation or APEX is advisable. Key issues:

• Regumming is a known problem with 1860s US stamps

• Reperforation to improve margins occasionally occurs

• Cleaning of used copies to attempt unused presentation

• Grill alteration (adding or removing grills to affect variety designation)

Why This Stamp Has Enduring Appeal

Beyond the technical philatelic interest, Scott #77 carries emotional weight that few stamps can match. Lincoln remains one of the most beloved figures in American history, and a stamp honoring him, printed in mourning black, issued in the immediate wake of his assassination, connects the collector to one of the most traumatic and consequential moments in American life.

That narrative resonance makes this stamp appealing to collectors who wouldn't ordinarily focus on 19th-century US definitives.

Final Thoughts

The 1866 15-cent black Lincoln stamp is one of those philatelic pieces that transcends its technical specifications. It's beautiful in its engraved simplicity. It carries genuine historical weight. And the mourning mythology, however contested in its origins, connects it to a moment of profound national significance. For collectors of American history or Civil War-era material specifically, this stamp is an essential acquisition.

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