1940 Famous Americans Complete Set (Scott #859-893)

The 1940 Famous Americans Series is one of the most ambitious and beloved stamp issues in United States postal history. Spanning 35 individual stamps across seven categories, this series honored the men and women who shaped American culture, science, and industry. Inspired by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, himself an avid stamp collector, the Famous Americans set represents a snapshot of how mid-century America understood its own greatness.

For stamp collectors, the complete set is both a satisfying collecting goal and an affordable entry into vintage U.S. philately. For history enthusiasts, each stamp is a miniature portrait of an American who mattered.

The FDR Connection

Franklin D. Roosevelt was the most enthusiastic stamp collector ever to occupy the White House. He personally reviewed and approved stamp designs, suggested subjects, and used his position to shape the nation's philatelic output. The Famous Americans Series bore his fingerprints throughout.

Postmaster General James A. Farley worked closely with Roosevelt to develop the series. The concept was straightforward but sweeping: honor the greatest Americans across seven fields of endeavor, with five stamps per category at ascending denominations (1 cent, 2 cents, 3 cents, 5 cents, and 10 cents).

The stamps were released in groups throughout 1940, creating sustained public interest and giving collectors time to acquire each subset before the next appeared.

The Seven Categories

Authors (Scott #859-863)

• 1 cent (green): Washington Irving (1783-1859)

• 2 cents (red): James Fenimore Cooper (1789-1851)

• 3 cents (violet): Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882)

• 5 cents (blue): Louisa May Alcott (1832-1888)

• 10 cents (brown): Samuel L. Clemens / Mark Twain (1835-1910)

Poets (Scott #864-868)

• 1 cent (green): Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807-1882)

• 2 cents (red): John Greenleaf Whittier (1807-1892)

• 3 cents (violet): James Russell Lowell (1819-1891)

• 5 cents (blue): Walt Whitman (1819-1892)

• 10 cents (brown): James Whitcomb Riley (1849-1916)

Educators (Scott #869-873)

• 1 cent (green): Horace Mann (1796-1859)

• 2 cents (red): Mark Hopkins (1802-1887)

• 3 cents (violet): Charles W. Eliot (1834-1926)

• 5 cents (blue): Frances E. Willard (1839-1898)

• 10 cents (brown): Booker T. Washington (1856-1915)

Scientists (Scott #874-878)

• 1 cent (green): John James Audubon (1785-1851)

• 2 cents (red): Dr. Crawford W. Long (1815-1878)

• 3 cents (violet): Luther Burbank (1849-1926)

• 5 cents (blue): Dr. Walter Reed (1851-1902)

• 10 cents (brown): Jane Addams (1860-1935)

Composers (Scott #879-883)

• 1 cent (green): Stephen Collins Foster (1826-1864)

• 2 cents (red): John Philip Sousa (1854-1932)

• 3 cents (violet): Victor Herbert (1859-1924)

• 5 cents (blue): Edward A. MacDowell (1860-1908)

• 10 cents (brown): Ethelbert Nevin (1862-1901)

Artists (Scott #884-888)

• 1 cent (green): Gilbert Charles Stuart (1755-1828)

• 2 cents (red): James A. McNeill Whistler (1834-1903)

• 3 cents (violet): Augustus Saint-Gaudens (1848-1907)

• 5 cents (blue): Daniel Chester French (1850-1931)

• 10 cents (brown): Frederic Remington (1861-1909)

Inventors (Scott #889-893)

• 1 cent (green): Eli Whitney (1765-1825)

• 2 cents (red): Samuel F.B. Morse (1791-1872)

• 3 cents (violet): Cyrus Hall McCormick (1809-1884)

• 5 cents (blue): Elias Howe (1819-1867)

• 10 cents (brown): Alexander Graham Bell (1847-1922)

Design and Color Scheme

The Famous Americans stamps follow a consistent, elegant design philosophy. Each stamp features an engraved portrait of the honoree in an oval frame, with the name below and denomination indicated. The color scheme is uniform within each denomination:

• 1 cent: Green

• 2 cents: Red (carmine rose)

• 3 cents: Bright violet (purple)

• 5 cents: Ultramarine blue

• 10 cents: Dark brown

This color coding by denomination means that a complete set, mounted in order, creates a visually striking pattern. Each row of five stamps shows the same color, while each column shows the progression from green to brown.

All stamps in the series were produced by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing in the flat plate format, perforated gauge 11 x 10.5.

Value Guide

The Famous Americans Series is notable for its accessibility. Most individual stamps are modestly priced, making the complete set achievable for collectors at any budget level. The higher-denomination stamps (5 cents and 10 cents) carry slightly higher values.

Complete Set of 35 (Mint, Never Hinged)

• Complete set, all mint NH: $25 to $40

• Complete set, mint hinged: $15 to $25

• Complete set, used: $8 to $15

Individual Stamps (Mint, Never Hinged)

• 1 cent values: $0.25 to $0.50 each

• 2 cent values: $0.25 to $0.50 each

• 3 cent values: $0.25 to $0.50 each

• 5 cent values: $1.00 to $3.00 each

• 10 cent values: $2.50 to $8.00 each

Premium Items:

• Alexander Graham Bell (Scott #893, 10 cent): $5 to $8 mint NH (the most valuable individual stamp in the set)

• Samuel L. Clemens / Mark Twain (Scott #863, 10 cent): $3 to $5 mint NH

• Booker T. Washington (Scott #873, 10 cent): $3 to $5 mint NH

• First Day Covers (individual): $3 to $10 each depending on cachet

• First Day Covers (complete set of 35): $150 to $300

• Plate blocks (complete set of 35): $150 to $250

Varieties and Errors:

No significant printing errors have been cataloged for the Famous Americans Series. However, shade varieties exist within the green and violet colors, and perforation variations can add modest premiums. First Day Cover cachet varieties are collected actively.

Condition Assessment Guide

Mint Never Hinged (MNH):

• Full original gum with no disturbance

• No hinge marks or remnants

• Centering should be at least fine (perforations clear of design on all sides)

Mint Hinged (MH):

• Original gum present with hinge mark or remnant

• Acceptable for budget collectors; discount of 30-50% from NH values

Used:

• Cancellation should be light and not obscure the portrait

• Clean cancels are preferred over heavy machine kills

• No thins, tears, or creases

Centering Grades:

• Superb (98): Virtually perfectly centered

• Extremely Fine (95): Nearly perfectly centered with balanced margins

• Very Fine (80-85): Slightly off-center but design well within perforations

• Fine (70): Noticeably off-center but perforations clear of design

• Very Good (60): Perforations may slightly touch design on one side

Graded examples from PSE (Philatelic Stamp Expertization) can command significant premiums for superb centering, even on stamps that are otherwise common.

Collecting Strategies

Complete Set: The most popular approach. At $25 to $40 for mint NH, this is one of the most affordable complete sets in classic U.S. philately. Many dealers sell pre-assembled sets.

First Day Covers: Each stamp had its own First Day of Issue, creating 35 separate FDC opportunities. The covers vary in cachet design and desirability. Artcraft, Crosby, and Fidelity cachets are among the more collected.

Plate Blocks: Collecting plate blocks (blocks of four with the plate number in the selvage) adds complexity and cost but creates a more substantial collection.

Subcategory Focus: Some collectors focus on individual categories. The Authors and Inventors groups are particularly popular due to the fame of the honorees.

Cross-Collecting: Pair stamps with related items. A Mark Twain stamp alongside a first edition of "Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" creates a compelling display. An Alexander Graham Bell stamp with a vintage telephone creates narrative.

Historical Significance

The Famous Americans Series is significant beyond its philatelic merits:

• Booker T. Washington (Scott #873) was among the first African Americans honored on a U.S. stamp, breaking ground for representation in American philately.

• Louisa May Alcott (Scott #862), Frances E. Willard (Scott #872), and Jane Addams (Scott #878) honored women's contributions at a time when such recognition was far from guaranteed.

• The series served as a form of public education, introducing millions of Americans to cultural figures they might not otherwise have encountered.

• FDR's personal involvement in the series made it one of the most high-profile stamp issues of the era.

The Famous Americans Series remains popular because it succeeds on multiple levels: it is visually attractive, historically educational, reasonably priced, and satisfying to complete. For new collectors looking for a gateway into U.S. philately, there are few better starting points.

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