# 537 - 1919 3c Victory Issue, violet
1919 3¢ Victory Issue Commemorative
Issue Date: March 3, 1919
City of Issue: Washington, D.C.
Printed by: Bureau of Engraving and Printing
Method: Flat plate
Watermark: None
Perforation: 11
Color: Violet
The Military Postal Express Service
The US postal service delivered most soldiers letters during the Civil War. In fact, they instituted the Soldier’s Letter Program, which allowed soldiers to send their letters without stamps, with payment being collected by the recipient. And because of the large number of soldiers’ letters being sent home, the post office inaugurated free home delivery for cities, which led to the daily home delivery we know today.
Despite the success of this undertaking, the post office and military had some issues with their arrangement. Largely, it was the War Department’s hesitance to release troop locations. So on May 9, 1918, the War Department issued General Order No. 72, assuming control of military mail and establishing the Military Postal Express Service (MPES).
The MPES continued to use many of the systems established by the post office, and even hired some of their postal agents and commissioned them as officers. The MPES had both stationary and mobile post offices. The mobile units moved with the troops and the men received mail with their daily rations. When the soldiers moved, the new location wasn’t revealed to the mail distribution centers until the camp was set up.
The MPES remained in service well after the war ended, closing its last outpost on January 31, 1924. The military continued to handle its own mail in the wars to come and today provides this service through the US Military Postal Service (MPS).
Click here to find lots of stamps honoring World War I. And here for more WWI-era Washington-Franklins.
1919 3¢ Victory Issue Commemorative
Issue Date: March 3, 1919
City of Issue: Washington, D.C.
Printed by: Bureau of Engraving and Printing
Method: Flat plate
Watermark: None
Perforation: 11
Color: Violet
The Military Postal Express Service
The US postal service delivered most soldiers letters during the Civil War. In fact, they instituted the Soldier’s Letter Program, which allowed soldiers to send their letters without stamps, with payment being collected by the recipient. And because of the large number of soldiers’ letters being sent home, the post office inaugurated free home delivery for cities, which led to the daily home delivery we know today.
Despite the success of this undertaking, the post office and military had some issues with their arrangement. Largely, it was the War Department’s hesitance to release troop locations. So on May 9, 1918, the War Department issued General Order No. 72, assuming control of military mail and establishing the Military Postal Express Service (MPES).
The MPES continued to use many of the systems established by the post office, and even hired some of their postal agents and commissioned them as officers. The MPES had both stationary and mobile post offices. The mobile units moved with the troops and the men received mail with their daily rations. When the soldiers moved, the new location wasn’t revealed to the mail distribution centers until the camp was set up.
The MPES remained in service well after the war ended, closing its last outpost on January 31, 1924. The military continued to handle its own mail in the wars to come and today provides this service through the US Military Postal Service (MPS).
Click here to find lots of stamps honoring World War I. And here for more WWI-era Washington-Franklins.