1888-1931 Special Delivery, Set of 8 Stamps

Get 8 Special Delivery Stamps in One Easy Order

This is your chance to add eight Special Delivery stamps to your collection at once.  Many of them are over 100 years old.  These used stamps are a reminder of a revolutionary mail service that delivered letters shortly after they arrived at the post office. 

Special Delivery stamps were pre-payments added to the regular “lawful postage” for an extra service – immediate delivery of a letter within one mile of any special delivery post office.  These special post offices were those with free routine delivery service or in larger communities with 4,000 or more people.
First available in 1885, the Special Delivery service was extremely popular.  At first, the service was available from 7 a.m. to midnight.  The following year, the hours changed from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.  The service was so successful that in 1886, every US post office began to offer Special Delivery.
Over the years, the designs, denominations, and printing process changed creating new Special Delivery stamps.  Many of those stamps are included in this set.

These Special Delivery Stamps are Included:

• E2 – 1888 10¢ Messenger Running: Issued when the service was expanded to all Post Offices
• E5 – 1895 10¢ Messenger Running: Printed on double line watermarked paper
• E6 – 1902 10¢ Bicycle Messenger: Issued after the Special Delivery service issued bicycles to its messengers
• E7 – 1908 10¢ Helmet of Mercury: Often called the “Merry Widow” after a popular operetta in which the main character wore a large straw hat.  The stamp was frequently confused with the current 1¢ stamps that were the same shade of green.  It was only on sale at the post offices for six months before the Post Office Department returned to the Bicycle Messenger design.
• E12 – 1922 10¢ Motorcycle Delivery: As transportation methods advanced, so did the portrayal of Special Delivery messengers on these stamps.
• E14 – 1925 20¢ Post Office Truck: When trucks came into use by the Post Office, the Special Delivery stamp was again updated. 
• E18 – 1944 17¢ Motorcycle Delivery: This stamp was intended for use on parcels weighing up to two pounds.  It was printed on the Rotary Press rather than the Flat Plate Press.

Make room in your album for these Special Delivery stamps.  They were artistically designed and have a neat history behind them.  Order your set of 8 today.