Postage Stamps of the United States First Issued in 1917
President: Woodrow Wilson · Postmaster General: Albert S. Burleson
Postal Rates of January 1 - November 2, 1917 Domestic Letter Rate: 2¢ per oz. · Postcard Rate: 1¢ · Registry Fee: 10¢ · Foreign Rate: 5¢
Starting on November 3, 1917 - Rates Raised to Help the War Effort
Domestic Letter Rate: 3¢ per oz. · Postcard Rate: 2¢ · Registry Fee: 10¢ · Foreign Rate: 5¢
The Special Delivery Issue of 1917
Flat Plate - Perf 11 - 200 Subject Plates
Earliest Known Use: June 12, 1917
The Special Delivery Stamp of 1917 Although this stamp was issued on May 2, 1917, the earliest known covers are from June 12. The only change from the previous issue was the change from perf 10 to perf 11, the same change that the ordinary stamps, the perf 11 Washington Franklins, and the Postage Dues underwent in 1917. 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 Issued in 1917 - Unwatermarked Perforated 11
Flat Plate - Perforated 11 -200 Subject Plates
These are the original designs that the Bureau of Engraving and Printing first implemented when they began printing Postage Due stamps in1894. The designs were not changed until 1930, a run of nearly thirty-six years.
The Postage Due Stamps of 1917The only change from the previous issue was the change from perf 10 to perf 11, the same change that the ordinary stamps, the perf 11 Washington Franklins, and the Special Delivery stamp underwent in 1917. Since the U.S. Post Office Department did not recognize these stamps as separate issues, no records were kept distinguishing quantities issued.
This series runs the gamut of shades from a light rosy red to a deep claret, although none brings a particular premium.
The following postage stamp varieties were first issued by the U.S. in 1917:
Ordinary issue:
Scott 467 - 5¢ red (2¢ error) Washington perf 10 - EDU: 5/22/17
Scott 477 - 50¢ Franklin perf 10 unwatermarked - EDU: 8/31/17
Scott 479 - $2 Madison perf 10 - EDU: 4/6/17
Scott 480 - $5 Marshall perf 10 - EDU: 4/6/17
Scott 483 - 3¢ Washington imperforate Type I - EDU: 11/8/17
Scott 484 - 3¢ Washington imperforate Type II (EKU 1918) - EKU: 4/5/18
Scott 485 - 5¢ red (2¢ error) Washington imperforate - EKU: not known
Scott 488 - 2¢ Wash. rot. coil perf 10 horiz. No Wmk Type III - EDU: 4/25/17
Scott 489 - 3¢ Washington rot. coil perf 10 horiz. Type I No Wmk - EKU: 2/16/17
Scott 493 - 3¢ Washington rotary coil perf 10 vert. Type I No Wmk - EDU: 11/2/17
Scott 495 - 4¢ Washington rotary coil perf 10 vert. unwatermarked - EDU: 6/20/17
Scott 498 - 1¢ Washington perf 11 - EKU: 4/19/17
Scott 498e - 1¢ Washington perf 11 booklet (pane of 6) - EDU (pair): 3/30/17
Scott 498f - 1¢ Washington perf 11 A.E.F. booklet (pane of 30) - EDU (single): 8/8/17
Scott 499 - 2¢ Washington perf 11 Type I - EKU: 3/27/17
Scott 499e - 2¢ Washington perf 11 Type I booklet (pane of 6) - EDU (single): 7/19/17
Scott 499f - 2¢ Wash. perf 11 Type I A.E.F. booklet (pane of 30) - EDU (single): 8/7/17
Scott 501 - 3¢ Washington perf 11 Type I - EDU: 6/5/17
Scott 501b - 3¢ Washington perf 11 Type I booklet (pane) - EKU: 2/8/18
Scott 503 - 4¢ Washington perf 11 - EKU: 7/17/17
Scott 504 - 5¢ blue Washington perf 11 - EDU: 6/5/17
Scott 505 - 5¢ red (2¢ error) Washington perf 11 - EDU: 3/27/17
Scott 506 - 6¢ Washington perf 11 - EKU: 6/26/17
Scott 507 - 7¢ Washington perf 11 - EKU: 8/1/17
Scott 508 - 8¢ Franklin perf 11 - EKU: 7/7/17
Scott 509 - 9¢ Franklin perf 11 - EKU: 10/2/17
Scott 510 - 10¢ yellow Franklin perf 11 - EKU: 3/27/17
Scott 510a - 10¢ brown yellow Franklin perf 11 - EKU: unknown
Scott 511 - 11¢ Franklin perf 11 - EKU: 12/1/17
Scott 512 - 12¢ claret brown Franklin perf 11 - EKU: 10/13/17
Scott 512a - 12¢ brown carmine Franklin perf 11 - EDU: 8/15/17
Scott 514 - 15¢ Franklin perf 11 - EDU: 11/15/17
Scott 515 - 20¢ Franklin perf 11 - EDU: 5/4/18
Scott 516 - 30¢ Franklin perf 11 - EDU: 1/12/18
Scott 517 - 50¢ Franklin perf 11 - EKU: 12/28/17
Scott 518 - $1 violet brown Franklin perf 11 - EKU: 12/6/17
Scott 518b - $1 deep brown Franklin perf 11 - EKU: unknown
Scott 519 - 2¢ Washington Denomination in letters perf 11 - EDU: 10/10/17Commemoratives:
No new varieties of commemorative stamps were issued in 1917
Air Mail:
The first Air Mail stamps were issued in 1918
Special Delivery:
Scott E11 - 10¢ Bicycle perf 11 unwatermarked - EKU: 6/12/17
Postage Dues:
Scott J61 - 1¢ Postage Due perf 11 unwatermarked
Scott J62 - 2¢ Postage Due perf 11 unwatermarked
Scott J63 - 3¢ Postage Due perf 11 unwatermarked
Scott J64 - 5¢ Postage Due perf 11 unwatermarked
Scott J65 - 10¢ Postage Due perf 11 unwatermarked
Scott J66 - 30¢ Postage Due perf 11 unwatermarked
Scott J67 - 50¢ Postage Due perf 11 unwatermarked
