1982 5.9c Bicycle, precancel
# 1901a - 1982 5.9c Bicycle, precancel
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U.S. #1901a
1982 5.9¢ Bicycle, 1870s
Precancel
Transportation Series
- 5th stamp in the Transportation Series
- Issued for nonprofit presorted bulk mailers with and without a precancel
Stamp Category: Definitive
Series: Transportation
Value: 5.9¢; nonprofit presort bulk rate
First Day of Issue: February 17, 1982
First Day City: Wheeling, West Virginia
Printed by: Bureau of Engraving & Printing
Printing Method: Engraved
Format: Coils of 500 and 3,000
Perforations: 10 Vertical
Color: Blue
Precancel: Two horizontal parallel bars
Why the stamp was issued: This stamp paid the standard nonprofit presorted bulk rate that went into effect on January 10, 1982 and lasted until July 27, 1982. Because of the short amount of time, the USPS decided to allow the stamp to be used for false franking, which it sometimes permits to bulk mailers to pay less than the actual cost of the postage rate. The stamp remained on sale for this purpose until October 1983.
About the stamp design: Designed by David Stone, this stamp pictures the “high ordinary” bicycle that was popular in England and France before taking America by storm in the 1870s. The bicycle is instantly recognizable for its giant front wheel and much small rear wheel.
About the printing process: This stamp was also issued without an overprint (#1901).
First Day City: The First Day ceremony for this stamp was held in Wheeling, West Virginia.
Unusual fact about this stamp: Imperforate errors of this stamp have been found (#1901b).
About the Transportation Series: On May 18, 1981, the USPS issued the first stamp in the Transportation Series, US #1907, picturing the Surrey, a doorless four-wheeled carriage. For the first time in US history, a coil stamp featured its own unique design rather than simply copying that of the current definitive stamp. Over 50 more coil stamps would be issued over the course of the next 15 years, each picturing a different mode of transportation. All of these types of transportation were used since American independence.
The various denominations provided face values to exactly match the rates for several categories of Third-Class mail (bulk rate and quantity-discounted mail). As the rates changed, new stamps with new values were added. Never before had a stamp series included so many fractional cent values.
The Bureau of Engraving and Printing printed most of the stamps in the Transportation Series, although private contractors printed a few. All but a few of the later stamps were produced by engraved intaglio. Differences in precancels, tagging, paper and gum provide a large number of varieties.
Scott Catalog separates the Transportation stamps into four groups. The stamps in the first group (#1897-1908) generally have the denomination in small type with a “c” next to it. These stamps were printed on the Cottrell rotary press, which joined together two plates to make a sleeve. The gaps between these plates created depressions where ink would collect and create joint lines on the stamps. Later issues were printed on a different press and didn’t have these joint lines.
The second group (#2123-36) had larger numbers with no “c.” The third group (#2252-66) was similar in appearance to the second group, but service inscriptions were added to the designs. These stamps also used a variety of paper and gum as well as different types of tagging. The fourth group (#2451-68) marked the end of fractional values. Now bulk mailers would use either the 5¢ or 10¢ stamp and then pay the difference from the actual postage rate.
The last stamp in the Transportation Series, the 20¢ Cog Railway, was issued on June 9, 1995, at the TEXPEX ’95 stamp show in Dallas, Texas. This marked the end of the largest US definitive series up to that time. Three new series would eventually replace it – American Transportation, American Culture, and American Scenes. Additionally, the Great Americans would go on to become the largest American definitive series.
History the stamp represents: Albert Augustus Pope established the first US bicycle factory in Hartford, Connecticut, in 1877. Early models carried the trade name “Columbia.” The firm grew steadily and produced an average of 60,000 bicycles annually during the 1880s. Pope was a pioneer and advocate of the hobby who successfully lobbied Congress for bicycle safety legislation. In 1895, Pope purchased 75 competitors and merged them to form the American Bicycle Company. The Pope Manufacturing Company is known as Columbia Bicycle today.
U.S. #1901a
1982 5.9¢ Bicycle, 1870s
Precancel
Transportation Series
- 5th stamp in the Transportation Series
- Issued for nonprofit presorted bulk mailers with and without a precancel
Stamp Category: Definitive
Series: Transportation
Value: 5.9¢; nonprofit presort bulk rate
First Day of Issue: February 17, 1982
First Day City: Wheeling, West Virginia
Printed by: Bureau of Engraving & Printing
Printing Method: Engraved
Format: Coils of 500 and 3,000
Perforations: 10 Vertical
Color: Blue
Precancel: Two horizontal parallel bars
Why the stamp was issued: This stamp paid the standard nonprofit presorted bulk rate that went into effect on January 10, 1982 and lasted until July 27, 1982. Because of the short amount of time, the USPS decided to allow the stamp to be used for false franking, which it sometimes permits to bulk mailers to pay less than the actual cost of the postage rate. The stamp remained on sale for this purpose until October 1983.
About the stamp design: Designed by David Stone, this stamp pictures the “high ordinary” bicycle that was popular in England and France before taking America by storm in the 1870s. The bicycle is instantly recognizable for its giant front wheel and much small rear wheel.
About the printing process: This stamp was also issued without an overprint (#1901).
First Day City: The First Day ceremony for this stamp was held in Wheeling, West Virginia.
Unusual fact about this stamp: Imperforate errors of this stamp have been found (#1901b).
About the Transportation Series: On May 18, 1981, the USPS issued the first stamp in the Transportation Series, US #1907, picturing the Surrey, a doorless four-wheeled carriage. For the first time in US history, a coil stamp featured its own unique design rather than simply copying that of the current definitive stamp. Over 50 more coil stamps would be issued over the course of the next 15 years, each picturing a different mode of transportation. All of these types of transportation were used since American independence.
The various denominations provided face values to exactly match the rates for several categories of Third-Class mail (bulk rate and quantity-discounted mail). As the rates changed, new stamps with new values were added. Never before had a stamp series included so many fractional cent values.
The Bureau of Engraving and Printing printed most of the stamps in the Transportation Series, although private contractors printed a few. All but a few of the later stamps were produced by engraved intaglio. Differences in precancels, tagging, paper and gum provide a large number of varieties.
Scott Catalog separates the Transportation stamps into four groups. The stamps in the first group (#1897-1908) generally have the denomination in small type with a “c” next to it. These stamps were printed on the Cottrell rotary press, which joined together two plates to make a sleeve. The gaps between these plates created depressions where ink would collect and create joint lines on the stamps. Later issues were printed on a different press and didn’t have these joint lines.
The second group (#2123-36) had larger numbers with no “c.” The third group (#2252-66) was similar in appearance to the second group, but service inscriptions were added to the designs. These stamps also used a variety of paper and gum as well as different types of tagging. The fourth group (#2451-68) marked the end of fractional values. Now bulk mailers would use either the 5¢ or 10¢ stamp and then pay the difference from the actual postage rate.
The last stamp in the Transportation Series, the 20¢ Cog Railway, was issued on June 9, 1995, at the TEXPEX ’95 stamp show in Dallas, Texas. This marked the end of the largest US definitive series up to that time. Three new series would eventually replace it – American Transportation, American Culture, and American Scenes. Additionally, the Great Americans would go on to become the largest American definitive series.
History the stamp represents: Albert Augustus Pope established the first US bicycle factory in Hartford, Connecticut, in 1877. Early models carried the trade name “Columbia.” The firm grew steadily and produced an average of 60,000 bicycles annually during the 1880s. Pope was a pioneer and advocate of the hobby who successfully lobbied Congress for bicycle safety legislation. In 1895, Pope purchased 75 competitors and merged them to form the American Bicycle Company. The Pope Manufacturing Company is known as Columbia Bicycle today.