SCOTT #O121 OFFICIAL MAIL 2 CENT

 

Did you know 112 years ago today (December 22, 1910), the US Post Office Department issued the first Postal Savings Official Mail stamp (US #O121)?  These stamps were issued in five denominations to be used when sending mail related to the US Postal Savings System.  

The stamps were only active until 1914, when unused quantities were returned to the post office and destroyed.  That makes unused stamps scarcer than used today!

 

LATVIA FIRST POSTAGE STAMP

 Did you know they were printed the backs of German WWI maps?  That’s right!  But why were these maps used?  It’s unlike any other stamp story I’ve ever heard…

During WWI, Germany and Russia fought tooth-and-nail over Latvia, a region along the shores of the Baltic Sea.  The war nearly crumbled the territory.  But a week after WWI ended, Latvia finally claimed its independence.

To prove its newfound sovereignty to the world, producing postage stamps was a top priority for Latvia.  The war left the country with a severe paper shortage.  High-quality paper was nowhere to be found!  That’s when the printers remembered the unused German maps and decided to use the back of the maps to print the stamps.

#MA1509

SCOTT #Q8 PARCEL POST 20 CENT

 

On December 16, 1912, the United States issued the world’s first stamp picturing an airplane.  It was a 20¢ Parcel Post stamp – #Q8.  Surprised?  If so, you’re not alone.  Many collectors think of the first three US Airmail stamps (#C1-3) as the first to picture airplanes!

In all, 12 Parcel Post stamps were issued to prepay the fourth-class rate.  Their denominations range from 1¢ to $1, featuring mail delivery methods and common ways people made a living.  All 12 stamps were red and used the same border design.

US #Q8

1913 U.S. 20¢ Parcel Post Stamp
World’s 1st Stamp to Picture an Air

SCOTT #740-49 ASSORTED PRICES 1 CENT TO 10 CENT

 

President Franklin Roosevelt personally oversaw the selection of these stamps!  They were issued during the National Parks Year of 1934, advertising the national parks system.  In 1935, the series was issued imperforate as part of the infamous “Farley’s Follies” scandal…

US #740-49 1934 National Parks Collection

SCOTT #3178 MARS PATHFINDER $3.00

It was July 4th, 1997 – were you (like me) camped wide-eyed in front of the TV watching never-before-seen views of the Martian landscape?  I’ll never forget it – the panoramic images were sent to us from an ancient flood plain on the surface of Mars.  (I remember wishing I was there, too.)  All these fantastic images were brought to us courtesy of the Mars Pathfinder spacecraft and robotic rover Sojourner.

The Pathfinder mission used the latest technology to place, for the first time, a lander and free-ranging robotic rover directly onto the surface of the planet.

US #3178 Largest U.S. Postage Stamp Ever Issued 1997 $3 Mars Pathfinder

Remember how NASA scientists used a parachute to slow the spacecraft as it entered the Martian atmosphere?  And all those giant airbags to cushion its landing.

 

SCOTT #F-1 REGISTRATION STAMP 10 CENT

 

On December 1, 1911, the US Post Office Department introduced the only registration stamp ever issued.  It prepaid registration fees and guaranteed special care and handling of a letter or package.  The stamp was valid towards the registration fee only, and could not be used as postage.

The new stamps were intended to simplify the registration process, but ended up confusing customers and postal clerks.  People mistook the stamp for regular postage.  As a result, further printing was discontinued in 1913, while the remaining stock was still used.  Though often overlooked by collectors, the expertly engraved US #F1 is one of the most beautifully designed Back-of-the-Book stamps!  .

US #F1

1911 U.S. 10¢ Registration Stamp Only Stamp Issued to Pay Registration Fee

SCOTT #C-20, C21, AND C-22 CHINA CLIPPER

 

On November 22, 1935, the China Clipper took flight from San Francisco.  It was the first-ever plane to carry airmail across the Pacific.  The huge seaplane landed in Manila a week later, completing its 8,000-mile journey across the world’s largest ocean.  And it delivered more than 110,000 pieces of mail. 

US #C20 1935 U.S. 25¢ Transpacific, Blue

US #C21 1937 U.S. 20¢ Transpacific, Green

US #C22

1937 U.S. 50¢ Transpacific, Carmine

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SCOTT #331 FRANKLIN 1 CENT & #332 WASHINGTON 2 CENT

 

The Third Bureau Issue, commonly called the “Washington-Franklins,” was issued in 1908.  It’s the result of the heaps of complaints made about the Second Bureau Issue…  Collectors, postal clerks, customers, art critics – even the press – didn’t like the stamps!  The ornate stamps were considered too fussy, with questionable designs, like nude figures on the 1¢ Franklin.  The US Post Office was up for the change.  

US #331 1908 U.S. 1¢ Franklin First in the Series of 1908-09

US #332

1908 U.S. 2¢ Washington Second in the Series of 1908-09

SCOTT #301 & #319 WASHINGTON 2 CENT

 

In 1902, the Series of 1902-03 replaced the outdated regular issues that were currently used.  Among this new series was #301, the 2¢ Washington “flag” stamp.  Collectors and experts were excited for the release when its design was first shown.  A New York newspaper even called it “the finest stamp ever produced.”  The original proofs were printed on quality paper in black ink, so the stamp design was beautiful and crisp.  But the actual stamps were printed on softer stamp paper in red ink, and the result was disappointing.  Many felt the overall design was too crowed and the portrait didn’t resemble Washington.

US #301 1903 U.S. Washington Flag Stamp Design Criticized After it Was Printed

US #319 1903 U.S. Washington Shield Stamp Deemed a Much Better Design Over #301 ¢

Scott #2869 & #2870 LEGENDS OF THE WEST 29 CENT

Correct Sheet US #2869 Pictures Bill Pickett – the correct person.   Error Sheet LEGENDS US #2870 Picturing the wrong person – Ben Pickett.

In January 1994, the USPS announced it was creating a set of 20 stamps titled “Legends of the West.”  One of the people to be featured was black rodeo star Bill Pickett.  Nobody expected this sheet to cause one of the biggest stamp stories in years… After the stamps were announced, a radio reporter phoned Frank Phillips Jr., great-grandson of Bill Pickett, and asked him about the stamp.  This was the first Phillips heard about the stamp, which was ironic.  For the last 14 years Phillips had written to the Citizens’ Stamp Advisory Committee suggesting that Bill Pickett should be honored on a stamp.  He was turned down every time.

Pleasantly surprised, Phillips went to his local post office, looked at the design and recognized it as Ben Pickett – Bill’s brother.  The stamp pictured the wrong man!  That was mistake #1. Phillips complained to the Postal Service, and Postmaster General Marvin Runyon issued an order to recall and destroy the error stamps.  But before the recall, 186 error sheets were sold by postal workers – before the official first day of issue.  This was mistake #2.  These error sheets were being resold for sums ranging from $3,000 to $15,000 each! Bill Pickett on the left (correct person), Ben Pickett on the right (printed on the error sheet.)

Weeks later, the USPS said 150,000 error sheets would be sold at face value by means of a mail-order lottery.  This unprecedented move was made with the permission of Phillips, Jr., so the Post Office could recover its printing cost and not lose money.  Sales were limited to one per household and the remaining stamps were destroyed.