Army Navy Issue Complete Set of United States Plate Blocks Issued 1936 and 1937

This series of commemorative stamps was issued to honor the military and naval services of the United States. It consists of five stamps for the Army in denominations of 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 cents, and a like number in the same denominations for the Navy.

One-cent. —The 1-cent Army stamp, printed in green, has for the central design portraits of George Washington and Nathanael Greene, enclosed in ovals with light back ground that touch the top and side borders. Beneath the ovals on white ribbons are the name “Washington” and “Greene” in dark Gothic. In the background between the ovals is a reproduction of Mount Vernon with the name below in dark Gothic. Within square panels in each lower corner with dark ground is the numeral “I” in white Roman. At the center of a narrow panel with dark ground along the base of the stamp are the words “One Cent” in white Roman with laurel leaves on either side. Along the top and sides of the stamp, partly obscured by the oval frames,
are narrow panels with white edges and dark ground, in the center of which, at the top, is the inscription “United States Postage” in white Roman arranged in two lines. Below are sprays of laurel leaves that rise from behind the ovals. A five-pointed star in white is shown in both upper corners within small squares formed by the intersection of the inside lines of the top and side panels. The lower ends of the side panels enclose laurel branches.

The 1-cent Navy stamp, printed in green, has for the central design, arranged in large ovals that touch the border at the top and sides, portraits of John Paul Jones at the left and John Barry at the right. In the back- ground are depicted naval vessels of that period. On curved panels with white ground at the base of the ovals are the names “Jones” and “Barry”, respectively, in dark Gothic. Below the portraits are the inscriptions “Bon Homme Richard” at the left, and “Lexington” at the right, in dark Gothic, representing famous naval vessels that were under their command. On a horizontal line between the ovals at the top of the stamp is the wording “United States Postage” in dark Gothic.

Army and Navy stamps of the one-cent denomination were first placed on sale at the Washington, D.C., post office on December 15, 1936.

Two-cent. —The 2-cent Army stamp, printed in red has for the central subject portraits of Andrew Jackson at the left, and Winfield Scott at the right, in oval panels which touch
the edge of the stamp at the top and sides. On white ribbon panels below the ovals are the names “Jackson” and “Scott” in dark Gothic.

The 2-cent Navy stamp, printed in red, has for the central subject portraits of Stephen Decatur at the left, and Thomas MacDonough at the right in oval frames that touch the top and side borders. On curved panels with white ground at the base of the portraits arc the names “Decatur” and “MacDonough” in dark Gothic. Below the ovals, in dark Gothic lettering, are the names of the historic war vessels, “United States” at the left, and “Saratoga” at the right, representing famous commands of these naval heroes.

Army and Navy stamps of the 2-cent denomination were first placed on sale at the Washington, D.C., post office on January I5, 1937.

Three-cent. —The 3-cent Army stamp, printed in purple, has for the central subject matter, portraits in oval frames of Generals Sherman, Grant, and Sheridan in the order given. Within curved panels with white ground at the base of each oval is the name of the officer in dark Gothic. In the open spaces at the top of the ovals are small triangular shaped panels, the two outer ones being plain, while the other two enclose scroll work in white on a dark ground.

The central design of the 3-cent Navy stamp is composed of portraits of Admiral Farragut at the left and that of Admiral Porter at the right, arranged in large upright ovals, between which is shown a reproduction of the general type of warship of that period. At the base of the respective ovals are the names “Farragut” and “Porter” in dark Gothic enclosed in curved panels with white ground. Inscribed below the ovals in dark Gothic lettering are the names of historic vessels under the command of these officers, U. S. S. Hartford at the left, and U. S. S. Powhatan at the right.

Army and Navy stamps of the 3-cent denomination were first placed on sale at the Washington, D.C., post office on February 18, 1937.

Four-cent.—The 4-cent Army stamp, printed in gray, has portraits in oval frames of Generals Robert E. Lee at the left, and Thomas J. (Stonewall) Jackson at the right. In curved ribbon panels with white ground at the base of the respective ovals are the names “Lee” and “Jackson” in dark Gothic. Between, and partly under the ovals, is a reproduction of the ancestral home of the Lee’s, with the name “Stratford Hall” underneath in dark Gothic.

The central design of the 4-cent Navy stamp is composed of portraits, in large ovals, of Admirals Sampson, Dewey, and Schley, arranged in order from left to right. Within the ovals below the portraits in curved panels with white ground are the names “Sampson”, “Dewey”, and “Schley” in dark Gothic. The central oval extends to the upper edge of the stamp, leaving space below between the outer ovals for the inscription “United States Postage” in dark Gothic. Below is a view of the sea with vessels in the distance.

Army and Navy stamps of the 4-cent denomination were first offered for sale at the Washington, D.C., post office on March 23, 1937.

Five-cent. —The five-cent Army stamp, printed in blue, has for the central design a view of the Military Academy at West Point, N.Y., showing in the foreground, at the left, Washington Hall, and at the right, the North Cadet Barracks. In a narrow panel with dark ground, along the lower edge of the stamp, are the words “United States Military Academy”, in solid white-faced Gothic. In the upper part of the central design, to the left, is the name “West Point”, in dark Roman lettering, and directly underneath, in small dark Gothic type, are the words “Duty . Honor . Country.”

The 5-cent Navy stamp, printed in blue, has for the central design a reproduction of the official seal of the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis, Md., flanked on either side by naval cadets, the one at the left wearing the uniform of the early days of the Academy, and the one at the right in the present-day uniform. At the top of the stamp, on the left, is the wording “United States Postage” in dark Gothic, arranged in two lines, and in a corresponding position at the right are the words “U. S. Naval Academy.”

The 5-cent Army stamp was first placed on sale at West Point, N.Y., on May 26, 1937, and the 5-cent Navy stamp, at Annapolis, Md., on the same date.

Mint, never hinged.

We often have multiple copies of this item in stock; the image shown is representative of what you will receive. The plate number and/or position may vary.