UNITED STATES “SIN TAX” STAMPS
A group of special tax stamps issued by the United States Internal Revenue office to dealers, both wholesale and retail, who sold alcohol and tobacco products. Printed by the Bureau of Printing and Engraving, every stamp includes the calendar year of issue, the type of business being taxed, the total tax, ranging from $1 to 2.40, a printed U.S. Revenue Seal, a serial number, twelve individual monthly coupons, and a receipt stub.
In this collection there are 34 cancelled and unused sheets for tobacco for the years 1873, 1877, 1879, 1880, 1883, 1884, and 1885, and two sheets for alcohol for the years 1871 and 1881. Multiples of each year are represented for the tobacco taxes.
The United States Internal Revenue Service (IRS) was founded in 1862 by President Abraham Lincoln, who created the position of Commissioner of Internal Revenue to help raise money to fund the American Civil War. Initially, the IRS collected income taxes, but that was unpopular, so from 1868 to 1913, most taxes were "sin taxes” collected on vices such as alcohol and tobacco. To show that the appropriate tax had been paid, stamps were purchased and either affixed to the taxed goods or displayed in the taxed place of business. The stamps were pre-printed with a specific year, and any unused stamps were cancelled by having triangular holes punched in them.
These were the largest revenue stamps ever issued by the government at 7 ½” x 14 ¾" and were printed from 1873 to 1885. Item #79369
Price: $350.00