Parcel Post & Special Delivery Issues
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Background and History of Parcel Post and Special Delivery Issues)
|| SPECIAL DELIVERY
on Scott Q11
Congress approved a Stamp Act on
August 24, 1912
that created postage rates on 4th class mail weighing 4 ounces
or less at 1 cent per ounce or fraction. On mail over 4 ounces,
the rate was by the pound. The rate for parcels of 4 ounces and
over was to be prepaid by the new
Parcel Post issues of 1913.
The USPS produced 12 parcel post and 5 parcel post due
stamps, usable only on parcel post packages starting January 1,
1913. Other stamps were not usable on parcel post starting on
Beginning on November 27, 1912, the stamps were shipped to
post offices offering parcel post service.
On July 1, 1913, the Postmaster General decreed that
postage stamps would be valid for Parcel Post. Parcel Post
stamps were then usable as regular stamps. Printing of Parcel
Post and Parcel Post Due stamps was halted in 1913 and the
remainder of these stamps were destroyed in September of
1. The 20c issue (Scott #Q8) was the first stamp in any
country to depict an airplane.
2. Parcel Post Stamps were issued to Post Offices in 1912 and
many were used for fourth class mail during December of 1912.
Special Delivery service was instituted by an Act of Congress
on March 3, 1885. The Act limited the service to Post Office's
that served populations of 4000 or more until 1886 when they
became available in all Post Offices.
Special Delivery stamps ensured delivery during both daytime
and evening at most post offices; thus the item did not have to
wait until the next day for delivery. These stamps were in
general use until 1957.
and Express Mail are the methods in use today.