Plates and Sheets of the Special Delivery Stamp of 1922
Contents
| 1. | Background | 7. | Autographed Panes |
| 2. | Source of Stamp Design | 8. | Worden FDCs |
| 3. | The Die | 9. | Misplaced “F”s |
| 4. | The Flat Press Plate | 10. | Plate Number Surveys |
| 5. | Plate Marking Positions | 11. | Color |
| 6. | The Plate Makers | 12. | Plate Number Histories, Blocks, and Singles |
1. Background
The victory of Warren G. Harding in the 1920 U.S. Presidential election ushered in a new Republican administration. Among the new appointees in the Post Office Department was Third Assistant Postmaster General W. Irving Glover. His duties would include the responsibilities for postage stamps. Among Glover’s early actions was his revamping of the nation’s postage stamps. The first stamp to receive this attention was the current special delivery stamp whose bicycle messenger design had been in use since 1902. A new design would show a motorcycle messenger to reflect the fact that the post office was mechanizing. Glover’s practice of publicizing the release of new stamps on specified dates and at specific locations began with this issue. It was announced that the new special delivery stamp would be made available to collectors and dealers on July 12, 1922 only at the Philatelic Stamp Agency in Washington, DC.
The flat press Special Delivery Stamp of 1922 (Scott E12) would be replaced by its rotary press version (Scott E15) in 1927. It was much more economical to use the rotary presses. A total of sixty-nine printing plates were used for Scott E12 while it was in production. Approximately 333 million copies of its stamp were issued.
2. Source of Stamp Design
Glover ordered the Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP) on March 13, 1922 to start work on a new special delivery stamp. Being a hands-on manager who took a professional interest in the many aspects of his organization, particularly new stamps, Glover suggested that “The messenger boy might be shown at the door of a house about to deliver a letter with his motorcycle resting against the curb, similar to the subject of the 2-cent parcel post stamp, which shows a city carrier delivering mail, or he might be shown riding his motorcycle with a mail bag on his back.”
The BEP responded to Glover’s request with two stamp drawings for his evaluation. Glover selected the home delivery model, but asked the BEP for some variations in the design. Four new drawings of the home delivery model were submitted to Glover who on April 14 selected the below drawing for the new special delivery stamp.
The drawing is an original illustration by C. Aubrey Huston of the BEP. It is part of the W. L. L. Peltz Special Delivery Stamp Collection which was donated to Brown University in 1946 and is found in the archives of its John Hay Library. How Peltz obtained the drawing is not known. It is interesting that philatelic writers initially identified Huston’s motorcycle as an Indian Chief manufactured by the Hendee Manufacturing Company who in 1923 changed their name to the Indian Motorcycle Manufacturing Company. A Gary Griffith article in a July, 2000 issue of Scott’s Monthly Stamp News illustrated that the motorcycle is actually based on a Harley-Davidson. It is interesting that the Dominican Republic would essentially use the same design on its early special delivery stamps. Dominican Republic
3. The Die
Die blank 684 was assigned to the project. Louis S. Scofield of the BEP was given responsibility for engraving the vignette and frame of the new stamp. Edward M. Hall would do the lettering and numerals. Engraving was started on the die on April 19. Die proof 116096, pulled from the finished die, was sent to Glover on June 12 for his approval of the final engraving and the approval signature of Postmaster Work. According to BEP records, the die proof was signed by Work on June 20 and returned to the BEP. Die Proof
Transfer roll 1176 was then made from the die and would be used to make the first printing plates. In total, five transfer rolls would be used to make 70 plates over the next four years.
4. The Flat Press Plate
Each plate is identified with a unique plate number. The motorcycle plate, as shown above, has 200 subjects. There are guide lines which divide the plate into four quarter panes; Upper Left (UL), Upper Right (UR), Lower Left (LL), and Lower Right (LR). Each quarter pane has two plate numbers in its margins, those being located at the top and side or the bottom and side of the quarter pane. The lower quarter panes also have plate makers initials in their lower side margins; siderographer’s at the lower left and plate finisher’s at the lower right. Sheets that are printed from the plate are eventually slit into quarter panes which are then delivered to post offices. The plate numbers and plate maker initials were retained in the selvage of the panes. Shown below is an E12 plate proof found at the National Postal Museum.
There are ten collectible stamp areas with selvage. Eight are block of six stamps or single stamps where the stamps are those bordering the plate numbers. The other two collectible positions are the stamps next to the plate makers initials. The latter two positions can also be blocks of four.
Another plate marking is the letter “F” which is normally positioned in front of the top plate number in the Upper Right quarter pane. It signified that the plate was “Finished” and ready for production.
There are normally five collectible plate block positions on a sheet; top left, top right, left side, right side, and bottom. The top right usually has the “F” marginal marking. Generally no distinction is made between upper left side and lower left side plate blocks, between upper right side and lower right side plate blocks, and between bottom left and bottom right plate blocks. An unusual sixth collectible plate block is also found on some panes of the 10-cent motorcycle special delivery stamp. It will be discussed later. Positions
6. The Plate Makers
The siderographer is the craftsman responsible for making the plate. He prepares a transfer roll from the die and uses the transfer roll to enter stamp images into the plate blank. Once the plate is completed, a plate finisher removes the siderographer’s extraneous markings such as lines and dots from the plate. One or two plate finishers would be assigned to a plate. Records indicate that 9 Siderographers and 32 plate finishers worked on the flat press 10-cent motorcycle plates. Siderographers Finishers
7. Autographed Panes
Glover and Michael Eidsness, Jr., Glover’s Superintendent of the Division of Stamps, met with Louis A. Hill, the Director of the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, to watch the new stamps being produced at the BEP. Wanting to make the first printing something special, the three of them signed their names on the selvage of the 24 panes of the first six sheets of the new stamp. These panes were put on sale at the Agency on the First Day. While not new, this practice became common practice. Signed Items
Eidsness, Glover, and Hill (left to right) at the BEP inspecting the first sheet of the new Special Delivery stamp. The rubber stamp “Canceled” on the photo means that the negative was destroyed by the BEP.
8. Worden FDCs
Edward C. Worden is one of the seven known servicers of FDCs for Scott E12. It was his first FDC venture. All FDCs cancelled at 10:00 AM are believed to be Worden covers. He apparently was the only one to use plate number singles on some of his covers. His covers have plate numbers 13916, 13918, and 13020 plate singles. I have yet to discover a Worden cover with plate number 13917. FDCs
9. Misplaced “F”s
The usual placement of the marginal marking “F” is to the near left of the top plate number on the upper right pane of the plate. A study of certified plate proofs at the BEP showed that this was not always true. The “F” was found by other plate numbers. Actual examples verify that some plates went to press with these “misplaced” markings. This is true for Scott E12. Three of its first four plates are found with an inverted “F” just to the right of the bottom plate number of the lower left pane. Inverted “F”s
This phenomenon is also known to exist for the first plates certified for the next three new stamp issues released after Scott E12; 11-cent Hayes (Scott 563), 5-cent Roosevelt (Scott 557), and 50-cent Arlington (Scott 570). Their misplaced “F” s are found by side plate numbers. A study of the Hayes misplaced “F”s found that at some point after their plates were initially used, the misplaced “F”s were removed from the plates and replaced with “F”s in the usual placement. This means that there are two collectible “F” positions. This is believed to be true for Scott E12 and the other two issues.
| Scott No. | First Day | Plate | Certified | To Press | Misplaced “F” Location | |
| E12 | 07/12/22 | 13916 | 07/06/22 | 07/07/22 | LL Pane, Bottom Plate Number | |
| 13918 | 07/06/22 | 07/07/22 | LL Pane, Bottom Plate Number | |||
| 13919 | 07/11/22 | 11/03/22 | LL Pane, Bottom Plate Number | |||
| 563 | 10/04/22 | 14058 | 09/30/22 | 09/30/22 | LR Pane, Side Plate Number | |
| 14060 | 10/06/22 | 10/09/22 | UL Pane, Side Plate Number | |||
| 557 | 10/27/22 | 14069 | 10/10/22 | 10/16/22 | LR Pane, Side Plate Number | |
| 570 | 11/11/22 | 14045 | 09/29/22 | 10/14/22 | LR Pane, Side Plate Number |
Why did this occur? It could have easily been done in error with the error eventually being corrected because of the symmetrical nature of the flat plate. I am not sure. The four stamps were the first new issues released by a new postal administration whose goal was to change the design of all existing postage stamps. I think they were under considerable pressure to make the stamps available by the stamps’ pre-announced first days of issue (a new policy) and some unanticipated short cuts may have been taken. I cannot prove it, but it is possible that the seven plates had minor plate work remaining that should have been performed, but time was a restriction. The plates went to press, but with a misplaced “F” indicator showing that the plates needed more attention when time would allow it.
10. Plate Number Surveys
It is difficult to determine which and how many of the possible 69 different plate number blocks do exist today. More information is known about plate number singles. A specialized United States Special Delivery auction conducted by Sotheby Parke Bernet on April 17, 1979 had the following E12 lots.
| Lot 3348 | 68 different plate number singles, all numbers except #18686 |
| Lot 3349 | 58 different plate number singles |
| Lot 3350 | 51 different plate number singles |
| Lot 3351 | 109 plate number singles with 39 different plate numbers |
According to Special Delivery guru Robert Markovits, only two plate number singles exist for #18686. 350 sheets were produced from that plate.
A B.I.A. plate number survey was reported in The United States Specialist from May, 1958 through October, 1962. No distinction was made between singles and blocks. There is some correlation between its tallies and sheet counts. A new survey would be welcomed. Survey Table
11. Color
12. Plate Histories, Blocks, and Singles
Following are links to pages dedicated to each of the 69 flat press plates used in producing the 10-cent Special Delivery stamp. Each page contains plate data and copies of a plate number single and a plate number block (if known to me). My personal collection accounts for all 69 different plate number singles and 50 different plate number blocks. I hope to acquire more numbers. Some pages do show plate numbers with ultramarine/blue and gray-violet plate items.
| Plate | Certify | First Day | Last Day | Press | Sheets | Plate | Plate | Siderog. | Finisher | |
| Number | Date | at Press | at Press | Runs | Block | Single | Initials | Initials | ||
| 13916 | 07/06/22 | 07/07/22 | 11/20/22 | 3 | N/A | Yes | Yes | SDeB | FB WES | |
| 13917 | 07/06/22 | 07/07/22 | 11/20/22 | 3 | N/A | Yes | Yes | SDeB | EME WES | |
| 13918 | 07/06/22 | 07/07/22 | 11/20/22 | 3 | N/A | Yes | Yes | SDeB | RJL JMcF | |
| 13919 | 07/11/22 | 11/03/22 | 11/20/22 | 1 | N/A | Yes | JCF | JPL CHR | ||
| 13920 | 07/06/22 | 07/07/20 | 02/01/23 | 4 | N/A | Yes | Yes | SDeB | RJL JWG | |
| 13921 | 07/11/22 | 11/20/22 | 02/01/23 | 2 | N/A | Yes | SDeB | RJL JWG | ||
| 13922 | 07/12/22 | 11/20/22 | 02/01/23 | 2 | N/A | Yes | SDeB | JMcF | ||
| 13923 | 07/11/22 | 11/20/22 | 02/01/23 | 2 | N/A | Yes | SDeB | JPL CHR | ||
| 14262 | 12/23/22 | 02/01/23 | 06/08/23 | 3 | N/A | Yes | Yes | DMC | JMcF | |
| 14263 | 12/27/23 | 02/01/23 | 07/12/23 | 4 | N/A | Yes | Yes | DMC | JES JMcF | |
| 14264 | 12/30/22 | 02/01/23 | 06/08/23 | 3 | N/A | Yes | Yes | DMC | EME JMcF | |
| 14265 | 12/22/22 | 02/01/23 | 04/10/23 | 2 | N/A | Yes | Yes | DMC | EME CHR | |
| 14328 | 02/23/23 | 05/00/23 | 02/07/24 | 4 | N/A | Yes | Yes | JCF | GTT GW |
| Plate | Certify | First Day | Last Day | Press | Sheets | Plate | Plate | Siderog. | Finisher |
| Number | Date | at Press | at Press | Runs | Block | Single | Initials | Initials | |
| 14329 | 02/26/23 | 05/00/23 | 02/07/24 | 4 | N/A | Yes | JCF | GW | |
| 14330 | 02/28/23 | 05/00/23 | 02/07/24 | 4 | N/A | Yes | Yes | JCF | EME AWL |
| 14331 | 02/28/23 | 05/00/23 | 02/07/24 | 4 | N/A | Yes | JCF | JMcF | |
| 14579 | 05/05/23 | 05/07/23 | 10/01/23 | 2 | N/A | Yes | WMcA | JMH AWL | |
| 14614 | 05/19/23 | 07/06/23 | 02/21/24 | 3 | N/A | Yes | Yes | WMcA | AWL |
| 14615 | 05/19/23 | 07/06/23 | 02/21/24 | 3 | N/A | Yes | Yes | WMcA | JES CHR |
| 14616 | 05/22/23 | 07/06/23 | 02/21/24 | 2 | N/A | Yes | Yes | WMcA | FB JWG |
| 14617 | 05/22/23 | 07/06/23 | 02/21/24 | 2 | N/A | Yes | Yes | WMcA | CHR |
| 15101 | 11/21/23 | 02/28/24 | 07/03/25 | 6 | 45314 | Yes | Yes | WMcA | AWL |
| 15102 | 11/17/23 | 02/28/24 | 08/14/24 | 3 | 37150 | Yes | Yes | WMcA | EME JWG |
| 15103 | 11/09/23 | 02/28/24 | 07/03/25 | 5 | 45314 | Yes | Yes | WMcA | AWL |
| 15104 | 11/17/23 | 02/28/24 | 08/14/24 | 3 | 37150 | Yes | Yes | WMcA | JWB JMcF |
| 15231 | 03/17/24 | 08/27/24 | 12/11/24 | 3 | 42471 | Yes | Yes | WMcA | EME JMB |
| 15232 | 12/07/23 | 08/27/24 | 12/11/24 | 3 | 42471 | Yes | WMcA | FNC AWL |
| Plate | Certify | First Day | Last Day | Press | Sheets | Plate | Plate | Siderog. | Finisher | |
| Number | Date | at Press | at Press | Runs | Block | Single | Initials | Initials | ||
| 15233 | 03/17/24 | 08/27/24 | 12/11/24 | 3 | 42471 | Yes | Yes | WMcA | JHK AWL | |
| 15234 | 03/15/24 | 08/27/24 | 12/11/24 | 3 | 42471 | Yes | Yes | WMcA | FAG CHR | |
| 16091 | 09/18/24 | 04/15/25 | 06/05/25 | 2 | 16375 | Yes | Yes | GRM | FAG AWL | |
| 16092 | 09/18/24 | 04/15/25 | 06/05/25 | 2 | 16375 | Yes | Yes | GRM | JHK JMB | |
| 16093 | 09/16/24 | 04/15/25 | 06/05/25 | 2 | 16375 | Yes | GRM | ECW GW | ||
| 16094 | 09/18/24 | 04/15/25 | 06/05/25 | 2 | 16375 | Yes | GRM | FNC JMB | ||
| 16119 | 11/07/24 | 06/05/25 | 07/16/25 | 2 | 16314 | Yes | Yes | GRM | FB JWG | |
| 16120 | 11/08/24 | 06/05/25 | 07/16/25 | 2 | 16314 | Yes | GRM | JMcF CHR | ||
| 16121 | 09/18/24 | 07/03/25 | 07/22/25 | 1 | 12650 | Yes | GRM | JEP RFW | ||
| 16122 | 11/05/24 | 07/03/25 | 07/22/25 | 1 | 12650 | Yes | Yes | GRM | HCL CHR | |
| 17223 | 07/21/25 | 10/20/25 | 04/01/26 | 2 | 18150 | Yes | JCF | ECW AWL | ||
| 17224 | 07/20/25 | 07/22/25 | 07/13/26 | 4 | 29561 | Yes | Yes | JCF | JHK CHR | |
| 17225 | 07/21/25 | 10/20/25 | 07/21/26 | 3 | 32800 | Yes | Yes | JCF | JMcF CHR | |
| 17226 | 07/20/25 | 07/22/25 | 07/13/26 | 4 | 29561 | Yes | Yes | JCF | RFW |
| Plate | Certify | First Day | Last Day | Press | Sheets | Plate | Plate | Siderog. | Finisher |
| Number | Date | at Press | at Press | Runs | Block | Single | Initials | Initials | |
| 17239 | 06/15/25 | 07/15/25 | 03/17/26 | 3 | 25536 | Yes | Yes | JCF | RJL AWL |
| 17240 | 06/16/25 | 07/16/25 | 11/20/25 | 2 | 17736 | Yes | Yes | JCF | FBB CHR |
| 17241 | 06/20/25 | 11/14/25 | 12/17/25 | 1 | 25000 | Yes | Yes | JCF | JJMcD CHR |
| 17242 | 06/16/25 | 11/14/25 | 12/15/25 | 1 | 22975 | Yes | Yes | JCF | CHR |
| 17513 | 07/21/25 | 12/15/25 | 03/24/26 | 2 | 18575 | Yes | Yes | DMC | ELS CHR |
| 17514 | 04/08/26 | 07/09/26 | 08/02/26 | 1 | 35200 | Yes | Yes | DMC | AAB JMB |
| 17515 | 07/22/25 | 03/04/26 | 03/24/26 | 1 | 16550 | Yes | Yes | DMC | WWM CHR |
| 17516 | 04/08/26 | 07/09/26 | 08/02/26 | 1 | 35200 | Yes | Yes | DMC | AWL |
| 17564 | 04/13/26 | 07/09/26 | 08/02/26 | 1 | 35200 | Yes | Yes | DMC | CHR RFW |
| 17565 | 04/08/26 | 07/09/26 | 08/02/26 | 1 | 35200 | Yes | Yes | DMC | JMcF |
| 17566 | 04/06/26 | 07/13/26 | 08/06/26 | 1 | 33400 | Yes | Yes | DMC | GS JMcF |
| 17567 | 04/08/26 | 07/13/26 | 08/06/26 | 1 | 33400 | Yes | Yes | DMC | ELS JWG |
| 17625 | 08/18/25 | 03/04/26 | 03/24/26 | 1 | 16550 | Yes | Yes | DWMcC | LRM AWL |
| 17626 | 07/13/26 | 07/21/26 | 08/10/26 | 1 | 24000 | Yes | Yes | DWMcC | JJMcD WES |
| Plate | Certify | First Day | Last Day | Press | Sheets | Plate | Plate | Siderog. | Finisher |
| Number | Date | at Press | at Press | Runs | Block | Single | Initials | Initials | |
| 17627 | 07/15/26 | 08/06/26 | 08/10/26 | 1 | 2250 | Yes | Yes | DWMcC | JJMcC CHR |
| 17628 | 07/08/26 | 07/22/26 | 08/10/26 | 1 | 22000 | Yes | Yes | DWMcC | ABK JWG |
| 17637 | 08/22/25 | 11/19/25 | 12/17/25 | 1 | 21375 | Yes | Yes | JHS | ABK WWM |
| 17638 | 07/02/26 | 08/02/26 | 08/10/26 | 1 | 12200 | Yes | Yes | DWMcC | JMcF |
| 17639 | 07/02/26 | 08/02/26 | 08/10/26 | 1 | 12200 | Yes | Yes | JHS | FAG WES |
| 17640 | 08/26/25 | 11/20/25 | 03/04/26 | 2 | 21500 | Yes | Yes | JHS | EAS AWL |
| 17641 | 08/20/25 | 03/04/26 | 03/22/26 | 2 | 6100 | Yes | DWMcC | RJL WWM | |
| 17642 | 08/20/25 | 03/22/26 | 04/01/26 | 1 | 7225 | Yes | DWMcC | ELS AWL | |
| 17643 | 08/22/25 | 03/24/26 | 07/22/26 | 2 | 28450 | Yes | Yes | JHS | AWL |
| 17644 | 08/22/25 | 03/24/26 | 04/01/26 | 1 | 5650 | Yes | DWMcC | ECW WWM | |
| 18683 | 07/12/26 | 08/02/26 | 08/10/26 | 1 | 12200 | Yes | Yes | DL | FAG JWG |
| 18684 | 07/22/26 | 08/02/26 | 08/10/26 | 1 | 12200 | Yes | Yes | JHS DL | GTT JMcF |
| 18685 | 07/08/26 | 08/02/26 | 08/10/26 | 1 | 2250 | Yes | DL | JAC RFW | |
| 18686 | 07/12/26 | 08/02/26 | 08/10/26 | 1 | 350 | Yes | JHS | RJL AWL | |
| 18692 | 07/09/26 | Not Used | Not Used | 0 | 0 | DL | LRM RFW |
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Jerry A. Katz 