US Stamps

World War I military service labels

Aug 19, 2024, 12 PM

This 1917 postcard publicized and gave instructions for the use of blue star labels showing that one or more family members were serving in the military on active duty during World War I.

U.S. Stamp Notes by John M. Hotchner

A phenomenon on covers of the World War I era is the blue star banner on mail from families with members in the military. This was an offshoot of the common practice of displaying a blue star banner in the window of a home to signify a loved one was an active duty service member.

I am sure there were multiple producers of these blue star labels as type, color and method of separation vary.

Text on the postcard illustrated above, shown courtesy of Dick Sheaff, says that the version shown on this card was “Patented November 6, 1917” and “Published by Ernest Dudley Chase, Boston.”

Under the words “SERVICE STAMPS,” the card includes this four-line rhyme: “The stamps upon your letters./To all the world will say,/’I’m proud because my loved one/Serves Uncle Sam today.’ ”

Sheaff also had a partial sheet of these labels. The complete sheet seems to have included 100 labels in 10 by 10 rows.

The blue star labels were available with up to five stars, but the most I have seen is ...

To continue reading U.S. Stamp Notes, subscribe to Linn’s Stamp News.

Connect with Linn’s Stamp News:

  Sign up for our newsletter
  Like us on Facebook
  Follow us on Twitter