United States Postage Stamps
A History

Regular, Commementive, Memorial Issues
Introduction ~ Series of 1847
Series of 1851
Series of 1861
Series of 1869
Issues of 1870
Issues of 1890&3
Columbian Series of 1893
Isues of 1894
Trans-Mississippi Exposition Stamps of 1898
Pan-American Stamps of 1901
Series of 1902-3
Lousiana Purchase Commemorative Stamps of 1904
Jamestown Commemorative Stamps of 1907
Issues of 1908-9
Issues of 1909
Issues of 1912
Panama-Pacific Commemorative Stamps of 1913
Issues of 1914-5
Issues of 1918
Issues of 1919
Pilgram Tercentenary Commemorative Stamps of 1920
Issues of 1922-23
Issue of 1923
Huguenot-Walloon Tercentenary Stamps of 1924
Issues of 1925
Issues of 1926
Issues of 1927
Issues of 1928
Issues of 1929
Issues of 1930
Isues of 1931
Washington Bicentennal Commemorative Stamps of 1932 & other Issues
Issues of 1933
Issues of 1934
Issues of 1935
 Special Souvenior sheets of 1935
Issues of 1936
Issues of 1937
Issues of 1938
Issues of 1939
Famous Americans Commem's of 1940 & Others
Vnmont Statehood of 1941
Issues of 1942
Overrun Countries commem's of 1943-44 & Others
Issues of 1944
Roosevelt and Armed Forces Series of 1945 & Others
Issues of 1946
Issues of 1947

Air Mail Stamps
 Issues of 1918-1947
Carriers' Stamps
Issues of 1851
Newspaper & Periodical Stamps
 Issues of 1865
Issues of 1875
Issues of 1895
Offical Postage Stamps
 Issues of 1873-1884
Parcel Post Stamps
Issues of 1912-1913
Postage Due Stamps
Issues of 1879-1930
Parcel Post Postage Due Stamps
  Issues of 1912
Postal Savings Offical Stamps
Issues of 1910-1911
Postal Savings Stamps
 Issue of 1911
Registry Stamp
Issue of 1911
Special Delivery Air Mail Stamp
Issue of 1934-1936
Special Delivery Stamps
 Issues of 1885-1925
Special Handling Stamp
Issue of 1925

United States Postage Stamps

1847 through 1947 ~ The first 100 years

TEN-CENT SPECIAL DELIVERY - 1885

A line engraving on steel, oblong in form; dimensions, l3/16 by 1 7/16 inches; color, dark blue. Design: On the left an arched panel bearing the figure of a mail messenger boy on a run, and surmounted by the words "United States"; on the right an oblong tab­let, ornamented with a wreath of oak and laurel surrounding the words "Secures immediate delivery at a special delivery office." Across the top of the tablet is the legend "Special postal delivery", and at the bottom the words "Ten cents", separated by a small shield bearing the numeral "10."

TEN-CENT SPECIAL DELIVERY - 1888

The words "Secures immediate delivery at a special delivery office" were changed, in 1888, to read "Secures immediate delivery at any post office."

SPECIAL DELIVERY - 1894

This is the some as the 1888 stamp except it has a line under the words "Ten Cents".

SPECIAL DELIVERY - 1902

10 Cent -each side is a fluted pillar supporting a tablet upon which are the words "United States of America." A messenger boy riding a bicycle toward the right appears on the left end, and the words "Special delivery," "Secures immediate delivery at any U.S. post office," are across the face of the stamp. The numerals "10" are in the lower corners in foliated spaces.

SPECIAL DELIVERY - 1908

A marked departure was made in the special delivery stamp of the series of 1908. The design was artistic, but many complaints were received from the public and from post masters that letters bearing the new stamp were escaping special delivery treatment on account of the altered shape, design, and color.

It was finally decided to discontinue this stamp, by order of the Postmaster General dated June 9, 1909, and the issuance of the special delivery stamp of the 1902 series was resumed.

The green special delivery stamp, issue of 1908, is described as follows:

Size, 0.85 x 1.02 inches; color, green. In the upper left corner is the denomination "10" in figures enclosed within a circle. Running diagonally from the lower left corner appears an olive branch entwining the winged hat of Mercury. In the lower right hand portion of the stamp is the inscription "U. S. postage, special delivery", in a rectangular panel.

The number of green special delivery stamps of the 1908 series issued was 3,876,551.

SPECIAL DELIVERY - 1922

A special delivery stamp of new design was placed on sale at Washington, D.C., July 12, 1922. The stamp replaced the special delivery stamp known as the issue of 1902.

The stamp is the same shape and size, 0.84 x 1.44 inch, as the former special delivery stamp, and is printed in blue ink. The central design is the front of a private residence, showing a motorcycle parked against the curb with the special delivery messenger delivering a letter. At the top of the stamp in white-faced Roman appear the words "United States postage". In two ribhons just below, and on either side of the picture, appear the words "Special" and "Delivery" in dark letters. To the right, and just above the motorcycle, are the words "At any United States post office", and in both lower corners are circles containing the numerals "10" connected by a panel in which appears the words "Ten cents" in white letters. A simple straight.line border surrounds the stamp.

SPECIAL DELIVERY STAMPS (15-CENT AND 20-CENT)-ISSUE OF 1925

NEW DENOMINATIONS

Two new special delivery stamps for use on parcels subject to the increased special delivery services, as provided under the act of February 28, 1925, were issued by the Department. These stamps are of the 15-cent and 20-cent denominations and are described as follows:

The I5-cent special delivery stamp is printed in orange and is the same shape and design as the current 15-cent special delivery stamp, except that the numerals "15" appear in both lower corners and the words "Fifteen cents" appear in the panel at the bottom of the stamp. Size is 0.855 x 1.45.

This stamp was first placed on sale April 11, 1925, at Washington, D.C.

The 20-cent special delivery stamp is the same shape and size as the current 10-cent special delivery stamp. The central design is a motor truck standing at the post office with a carrier loading parcel post packages for special delivery. At the top of the stamp, upon a curved ribbon, are the words "Special delivery" in dark letters with the words "U. S. postage" directly beneath the ribbon in white letters. Above the motor truck are the words "At any United States post office", and at the bottom of the stamp, within a panel, are the words "Twenty cents." In both upper corners, upon ribbon scrolls, are the numerals "20" and in both lower corners, within circles, are the white numerals "20." The stamp is enclosed within a cross line border and is printed in black ink.