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Stamp Desk / On the move

United States, 1901 (10 cents, ocean liner)

An ocean liner ploughing through waves.

An ocean liner ploughing through waves; stamp issued by United States, 1901
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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.

  1. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
  2. POSTAGE TEN CENTS
Inscription
COMMEMORATIVE SERIES 1901 · UNITED STATES OF AMERICA · FAST OCEAN NAVIGATION · POSTAGE TEN 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 ten-cent Pan-American stamp, the top value of the set, shows an ocean liner 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 10c Fast Ocean Navigation.jpg on Wikimedia Commons (revision 1035982083), licence templates {{PD-USGov}}. Downloaded 2026-10-21, sha256 a6944e3fbd07…; 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.