Catalog Numbers are from the Confederate States of America Catalog and Handbook of Stamps and Postal History

Left: Deep Orange - Right: Orange

Jean Ferdinand Joubert De La Ferté (1810-1884) designed and engraved the CSA 1-cent John C. Calhoun issue. There were 400,000 stamps invoiced, printed from one four hundred-subject electrotype plate consisting of four panes of 100 subjects. The printing plate consisted of four panes of 100, resulting in a printed sheet of 400 stamps. Prior to shipment to the Confederacy, the sheets were cut into panes of 100. No gutter multiples are known except for the half-sheet of proofs retained in London by De La Rue. That half-sheet has since been broken up and is in collector hands. Plating has not been attempted as complete panes still remain. The stamps were printed on thin hard-surface paper with colorless gum; they were imperforate. Color shades include deep orange, light orange, and yellow, which may be due to fading. Impressions are clear and distinct. Ink was described by De La Rue as fugitive (it runs when subjected to water)

These stamps were printed and delivered, but never issued. Even though the printing number was low, the stamps are not particularly rare because most survived. There was a one-cent rate for drop circulars and effective July 1, 1863 for all circulars, pamphlets and periodicals not exceeding one ounce in weight. The stamps appeared on the Confederate Post Office stamp order form, indicating they were held in inventory at Richmond.