U.S. #569
Series of 1922-25
30¢ Buffalo

Issue Date: March 20, 1923
First City: Washington, DC
Issue Quantity: 282,608,477

Wheels of Progress

In 1847, when the printing presses first began to move, they didn’t roll – they “stamped” in a process known as flat plate printing.  The Regular Series of 1922 was the last to be printed by flat plate press, after which stamps were produced by rotary press printing.

By 1926, all denominations up to 10¢ – except the new ½¢ – were printed by rotary press.  For a while, $1 to $5 issues were done on flat plate press due to smaller demand.

This stamp didn't serve any special rate but was used on packages that required more than thirty cents postage. It's the only stamp in the series that doesn't have a title plate beneath the central design, since most people would know it was a picture of a buffalo.

America’s Buffalo

The Series of 1922-25 30¢ stamp pictures a buffalo.  Vast herds of buffalo, or bison, once roamed over North America.  In 1850, it’s estimated there were 20 million buffalo in the United States.  However, by 1889, only 551 could be found in the nation.  Since that time, great efforts have been made to preserve this impressive species.  Today, more than 65,000 buffalo inhabit U.S. and Canadian reserves.

The National Bison Range is part of the National Wildlife Refuge System.  Up to 450 buffalo live on the range’s 18,500 acres.  National Bison Range is also home to elk, deer, pronghorn, black bear, coyote, ground squirrels, and many species of birds, including eagles.  Established in 1908, it is one of the oldest wildlife refuges in America.