1922–32 Fourth Bureau issue

Compared to the narrow focus of the Washington-Franklins, the fourth Bureau issue provided collectors with a delightful range of subjects. Stalwarts such as Benjamin Franklin and George Washington returned to grace the 1¢ and 2¢ stamps, respectively, but individuals such as Theodore Roosevelt made their first appearances on United States postage stamps. In addition, the higher values in the series depicted U.S. landmarks and even a bison, or American buffalo.

The first stamps featuring these designs were printed on flat plate presses and are perf. 11. Many of the stamps were also printed using rotary presses, and these were perf. 11×10½ or 10½×11 in sheets and perf. 10 in coils. Several other perforation varieties also exist, some of which are extremely scarce.

The fourth Bureau issue includes a design picturing a Native American chief, a stamp that some collectors including Philosateleia’s editor feel is the most beautiful U.S. postage stamp ever produced. Philosateleia’s special exhibit, 14 Cents: the American Indian Stamp, takes a closer look at that stamp.

Brown 0.5-cent U.S. postage stamp picturing Nathan Hale — Nathan Hale

Green 1-cent U.S. postage stamp picturing Benjamin Franklin — Benjamin Franklin

Light brown 1.5-cent U.S. postage stamp picturing Warren G. Harding — Warren G. Harding

Red 2-cent U.S. postage stamp picturing George Washington — George Washington

Purple 3-cent U.S. postage stamp picturing Abraham Lincoln — Abraham Lincoln

Light brown 4-cent U.S. postage stamp picturing Martha Washington — Martha Washington

Light brown 4-cent U.S. postage stamp picturing William H. Taft — William H. Taft

Blue 5-cent U.S. postage stamp picturing Theodore Roosevelt — Theodore Roosevelt

Orange 6-cent U.S. postage stamp picturing James A. Garfield — James A. Garfield

Black 7-cent U.S. postage stamp picturing William McKinley — William McKinley

Olive 8-cent U.S. postage stamp picturing Ulysses S. Grant — Ulysses S. Grant

Pink 9-cent U.S. postage stamp picturing Thomas Jefferson — Thomas Jefferson

Yellow 10-cent U.S. postage stamp picturing James Monroe — James Monroe

Bluish-green 11-cent U.S. postage stamp picturing Rutherford B. Hayes — Rutherford B. Hayes

Dark purple 12-cent U.S. postage stamp picturing Grover Cleveland — Grover Cleveland

Green 13-cent U.S. postage stamp picturing Benjamin Harrison — Benjamin Harrison

Blue 14-cent U.S. postage stamp picturing American Indian — American Indian

Gray 15-cent U.S. postage stamp picturing Statue of Liberty — Statue of Liberty

Black 17-cent U.S. postage stamp picturing Woodrow Wilson — Woodrow Wilson

Red 20-cent U.S. postage stamp picturing Golden Gate — Golden Gate

Green 25-cent U.S. postage stamp picturing Niagara Falls — Niagara Falls

Brown 30-cent U.S. postage stamp picturing American buffalo — American Buffalo

Light purple 50-cent U.S. postage stamp picturing Arlington Amphitheatre — Arlington Amphitheatre

Dark purple $1 U.S. postage stamp picturing Lincoln Memorial — Lincoln Memorial

Blue $2 U.S. postage stamp picturing U.S. Capitol — U.S. Capitol

Next: 1923

Published 2018-06-19