U.S. #1905a
1984 11¢ Railroad Caboose
Transportation Series

Issue Date: February 3, 1984
City: Chicago, IL
Quantity: 439,118,000

Printed By: Bureau of Engraving and Printing

Printing Method: Engraved

Perforations: 10 vertically

Color: R...  more

U.S. #1905a
1984 11¢ Railroad Caboose
Transportation Series

Issue Date: February 3, 1984
City: Chicago, IL
Quantity: 439,118,000

Printed By: Bureau of Engraving and Printing

Printing Method: Engraved

Perforations: 10 vertically

Color: Red

The caboose featured on this stamp is typical of the logging railroads that ran between forests and lumber mills in the late 1880s. A primitive home on wheels for the train crew, it was also used to transport loggers, saws, and other equipment to logging sites.

The Transportation Series

A ground-breaking stamp was quietly issued on May 18, 1981. For the first time in U.S. history, a coil stamp featured its own unique design rather than simply copying that of the current definitive stamp. Fifty more coil stamps would be issued over the course of the next 15 years, each picturing a different mode of transportation. 

The various denominations provided face values to exactly match the rates for several categories of Third Class mail (bulk rate and quantity-discounted mail). As the rates changed, new stamps with new values were added. Never before had a stamp series included so many fractional cent values.

Most of the stamps in the Transportation Series were printed by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, although a few were printed by private contractors. All but a few of the later stamps were produced by engraved intaglio. Differences in precancels, tagging, paper and gum provide a large number of varieties.