Start of the Series of 1902-03
On November 18, 1902, the US Post Office issued the first stamp in the Series of 1902-03.
In 1902, the Bureau of Engraving and Printing’s workmanship on the 1901 Pan-American series impressed the Post Office Department. So they decided to inaugurate a new general issue to replace the then-current Regular Issues, which had been in use with only minor changes for more than ten years. They hoped these new stamps would create the same excitement for regular issues that the Pan-Americans had received.
The Series of 1902-03, known as the Second Bureau Issue, was the first series completely designed by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing. The previous issues used designs from the American Bank Note Company.
The first stamp, US #308, was issued on November 18, 1902. It was the first US stamp with a 13¢ denomination, and the first to honor President Benjamin Harrison. Used on international mail, it prepaid the rate for a 1/2-ounce letter to any country in the Postal Union, 10¢ for the registered fee and 3¢ for postage.
Officials expected heavy demand for the 13¢ stamp, anticipating its use in place of an 8¢ stamp for the Registry fee and a 5¢ stamp for postage on letters to foreign destinations. However, the public rejected the stamps and sales were the lowest of any of the denominations under 50¢.
The designs of the stamps in this new series were markedly different from previous issues. They had far more ornate designs – each stamp’s border was different and highly detailed. Several borders even pictured people! The ornate new designs, however, were not the only addition to the 1902 series. Each stamp also included the name of the person pictured and their dates of birth and death – a first for US postage.
The Series of 1902 included two other new faces in addition to Harrison – Admiral David Farragut and Martha Washington. Martha Washington’s stamp was the first US stamp to honor an American woman.
A slight change was also made in the format. Each stamp in this series bears the inscription, “Series 1902.” This caused some concern abroad, as many European philatelists wondered whether the US was planning on issuing new stamps each year. Many of the stamps, however, did not even reach post offices until 1903, and the next general issues were not produced until 1908.
At the time, some of the stamps received negative criticism. In particular, some criticized the 1¢ Franklin. Art critics and stamp experts claimed the portrait looked like a caricature, while the overall design was unbecoming. However, today we see this series as an excellent representation of early 20th-century US stamps at their best. And some consider the Series of 1902 to be the most beautiful ever issued by the US.
The Imperforate Stamps of 1906-08
In 1906, the 1¢ and 2¢ stamps were produced imperforate for use in vending machines. The stamps were first issued in Chicago, leaving New York dealers unaware of its existence for a short time. This led to one of the most interesting stamp stories of the era.
A scheming young man in Chicago took advantage of the situation to “make a quick buck.” He told New York dealers that, according to a friend who worked for the Postal Department, these imperforate sheets were an error and only a few had gotten out. Eager to own a rare and valuable error, the dealers snatched up the sheets for $10 to $25 apiece!
When the sheets came out in New York a few days later, they knew they’d “been had.” The sheets, containing 100 stamps, sold for a mere $2. One dealer sold his copies for $2.00 a block, with the statement, “it might be a scarce item or perhaps become a regular issue.”
Click here to see all the Series of 1902-03 stamps.
Click here to see what else happened on This Day in History.
I think it’s great to honor famous people with stamps . Hopefully no one will ever want to honor our worst president ever , Donald trump , with a stamp .
Oh there will be a Trump stamp someday. No president has ever been left out. That’s just the way it is. You just won’t have to lick it, as it will self sticking.
Sorry – One of the best ever. The only one with guts enough to try and fix many of our failed Washington policies.
One of the “best ever?” Hardly, Trump will be remembered as the worst President in U.S. history. There’s an old truism that some people get promoted just one too many times. Trump is the proof of that.
Worst President ever, in your opinion. In my opinion, Obama is the worst President ever. ‘How about in the future keeping your political views off of this page and to yourself.
Dear Charles, as Truman once said, “If you don’t like the heat, get out of the kitchen.” You comment about Obama is just silly.
Some people just do not give up
Well written and very interesting story on this issue of definitive. Keep up the good work. I do think that the image of Ben Franklin looks just fine. It’s so true as Lincoln’s old saying goes that you that you can please some of the people all the time, all the people some of the time, but you can’t please all the people all the time. Remember Bob Dylan using that in his lyrics???? One day Bob Dylan will be on a stamp, but hopefully not for some time. I probably won’t be around to buy it.
Say what you will about Trump, but he is the only one who has the guts to buck political trends. It may cost him his re-election, but he does what he thinks ought to be done without regard for the political ramifications. If he would just lay off his tweets–every time he issues one, he puts his foot in his mouth.
“Buck political trends..without political ramifications?” He “bucks” political trends so he can suck up to his base. “It may cost his re-election? We can only hope, unless he is impeached or resigns first.