United States, 1901 (2 cents, express train)
A steam locomotive pulling an express train.
Illustration of a historical stamp for learning, shown at screen size. Not valid for postage.
How to read it
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA on the arch above the picture.
- 1UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
- 2POSTAGE TWO CENTS
- Inscription
- COMMEMORATIVE SERIES 1901 · UNITED STATES OF AMERICA · FAST EXPRESS · POSTAGE TWO CENTS
- Meaning
- The full country name on the arch; the small caption names the machine or place and the bottom line gives the value.
- Issued by
- United States
- Today
- the United States Flag of United States
- Year
- 1901. Pan-American Exposition issue, Buffalo, 1901.
- Made by
- Bureau of Engraving and Printing (government printing and engraving agency)
One fact
The two-cent Pan-American stamp shows an express train at speed.
Source and public-domain rule
United States, published before 1931. Published in the United States in 1901, before 1931. Works published in the United States in 1930 or earlier are out of copyright there (the longest term, 95 years from publication, ended on 1 January 2026 for 1930 works), and stamps made by the federal government itself are not protected at all. Under the EU comparison of terms a work from outside the EU is protected no longer than in its country of origin. Legal sources: Duke Center for the Study of the Public Domain, 17 U.S.C. § 105.
Scan: US stamp 1901 Pan Am 2c Fast Express.jpg on Wikimedia Commons (revision 993321396), licence templates {{PD-USGov}}. Downloaded 2026-10-21, sha256 ddac19dc09e4…; cropped and cleaned for this site. Facts checked 2026-10-22 against source 1 and source 2. Research record, not legal advice; a second check of these rights by a person is planned, and a stamp that turns out not to be free to use will be removed. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.
