Postage Stamps of the United States First Issued in 1916
President: Woodrow Wilson · Postmaster General: Albert S. Burleson
Domestic Letter Rate: 2¢ per oz. · Postcard Rate: 1¢ · Registry Fee: 10¢ · Foreign Rate: 5¢
The Special Delivery Issue of 1916 - Unwatermarked Perforated 10
Flat Plate - Perf 10 - 200 Subject Plates
Earliest Known Use: November 4, 1916
The Special Delivery Stamp of 1916 Although this stamp was issued on October 19, 1916, the earliest known covers are from November 4. This stamp marks the change from watermarked to unwatermarked paper, the same change that the ordinary stamps, the perf 10 unwatermarked Washington Franklins, and the 1¢ and 2¢ Postage Dues underwent in 1916. Since the U.S. Post Office Department did not recognize these stamps as separate issues, no records were kept distinguishing quantities issued.
The Postage Dues First Issued in 1916 - Unwatermarked Perforated 10
The Postage Due Stamps of 1916
These stamps mark the change from watermarked to unwatermarked paper in 1916, the same change that the ordinary stamps, the perf 10 unwatermarked Washington Franklins underwent. Only the 1¢ and 2¢ stamps were issued in the unwatermarked perf 10 format, since there was enough stock of the other values. By 1917, the supply of the higher denominations dwindled to the point that new production was needed, but by then the perforation had been changed to 11 - see the perf 11 Postage Dues of 1917.
The following postage stamp varieties were first issued by the U.S. in 1916:
Ordinary issue:
Scott 456 - 3¢ Washington rot. coil perf 10 vert. S/L Wmk Type I - EKU: 4/13/16
Scott 458 - 5¢ Washington rotary coil perf 10 vert. S/L Wmk - EDU: 4/6/16
Scott 462 - 1¢ Washington perf 10 unwatermarked - EKU: 10/25/16
Scott 462a - 1¢ Washington perf 10 No Wmk. Booklet (pane) - EDU: 4/5/17
Scott 463 - 2¢ Washington perf 10 unwatermarked - EKU: 9/12/16
Scott 463a - 2¢ Washington perf 10 No Wmk. Booklet (pane) - EKU: 12/3/16
Scott 464 - 3¢ Washington perf 10 unwatermarked - EDU: 3/9/17
Scott 465 - 4¢ Washington perf 10 unwatermarked - EKU: 2/18/17
Scott 466 - 5¢ Washington perf 10 unwatermarked - EDU: 12/7/16
Scott 468 - 6¢ Washington perf 10 unwatermarked - EDU: 4/19/17
Scott 469 - 7¢ Washington perf 10 unwatermarked - EDU: 2/19/17
Scott 470 - 8¢ Franklin perf 10 unwatermarked - EDU: 2/13/17
Scott 471 - 9¢ Franklin perf 10 unwatermarked - EDU: 12/27/17
Scott 472 - 10¢ Franklin perf 10 unwatermarked - EDU: 10/24/16
Scott 473 - 11¢ Franklin perf 10 unwatermarked - EKU: 4/13/17
Scott 474 - 12¢ Franklin perf 10 unwatermarked - EKU: 10/6/16
Scott 475 - 15¢ Franklin perf 10 unwatermarked - EKU: 3/2/17
Scott 476 - 20¢ Franklin perf 10 unwatermarked - EKU: unknown
Scott 478 - $1 Franklin perf 10 unwatermarked - EDU: 5/24/17
Scott 481 - 1¢ Washington flat plate imperforate - EDU: 11/17/16
Scott 482 - 2¢ Washington flat plate imperforate Type I - EKU: 1/9/17
Scott 487 - 2¢ Washington rot. coil perf 10 horiz. No Wmk Type II - EDU: 9/21/17
Scott 490 - 1¢ Washington rot. coil perf 10 vert. No Wmk - EDU: 3/16/17
Scott 491 - 2¢ Washington rot. coil perf 10 vert. No Wmk Type II - EDU: 1/2/17
Scott 492 - 2¢ Washington rot. coil perf 10 vert. No Wmk Type III - EDU: 4/1/17Commemoratives:
No new varieties of commemorative stamps were issued in 1916
Special Delivery:
Scott E10 - 10¢ Bicycle perf 10 unwatermarked - EKU: 11/4/16
Postage Dues:
Scott J59 - 1¢ Postage Due perf 10 unwatermarked
Scott J60 - 2¢ Postage Due perf 10 unwatermarked
