U.S. 1902 special delivery stamp a must for bicycle topical collectors

Stamp Market Tips by Henry Gitner and Rick Miller

Special delivery was an expedited delivery service in operation from Oct. 1, 1885, until June 7, 1997. The service provided that an envelope or package was delivered to the addressee immediately after it was received at the post office rather than waiting for the next regular mail delivery.

The first U.S. special delivery stamp (Scott E1) was issued in 1885. The last (E23) was issued May 10, 1971. Special delivery stamps were never valid for payment of postage. They were only valid for payment of the special delivery service.

On Dec. 9, 1902, the U.S. Post Office Department issued a 10¢ ultramarine Bicycle Messenger special delivery stamp (Scott E6). The earliest documented use of the stamp is Jan. 15, 1903.

This was the first U.S. stamp to feature a bicycle in the design and one of the first in the world to do so. It is a must for bicycle topical collectors.

The Scott Specialized Catalogue of United States Stamps and Covers values an example in very fine grade and unused, hinged condition at $240. An example in mint, never-hinged condition is valued at $500. A used example is valued at $10.

The stamp is a good buy at around 75 percent to 85 percent of Scott catalog value in unused, hinged condition. For a stamp in very fine grade and mint, never-hinged condition, you are likely to pay 80 percent to 100 percent of Scott catalog value.

Expertization is a good idea to guard against regummed and reperforated stamps. Used examples can be bought for $5 to $10 depending on the attractiveness of the cancellation.

Also, the Scott U.S. Specialized values pale ultramarine and dark ultramarine shade varieties and a blue color variety (Scott E6a).

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