Home > Thomas Edison 2 cent stamp released in 1929...
Click image to enlarge 724511
Hide image list »

Thomas Edison 2 cent stamp released in 1929...



Item # 724511

June 06, 1929

THE SPRINGFIELD UNION, Mass. June 6, 1929

* Thomas Edison's 2 cent stamp
* Electric Light Golden Jubilee
* Menlo Park, New Jersey release
* 1879 carbon-filament lamp anniversary


The front page has a two column heading: "Thousands Join in Rush for Edison Light Stamps" with subhead and photo of Edison. (see  images) There is a thin printing flaw that slightly affects the image of Edison.
Complete with 30 pages, light toning and a little wear at the margins, the mentioned printing flaw, generally in nice condition.

background: Issued in June 1929 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the incandescent light bulb, the Electric Light Golden Jubilee stamp is a unique piece of postal history because it honors Thomas Edison without actually showing his face. At the time of issuance, U.S. postal regulations strictly prohibited featuring living persons on postage, and since the "Wizard of Menlo Park" was still alive, the Post Office instead featured a detailed illustration of his 1879 carbon-filament lamp radiating light. The 2-cent carmine rose stamp was released in three distinct formats to accommodate different mailing needs: a flat-plate printing (Scott #654), a rotary press printing (Scott #655), and—notably—the first-ever commemorative coil version (Scott #656) designed for vending machines. While the primary first-day ceremony took place on June 5 in Menlo Park, New Jersey, the stamp was part of a massive six-month national celebration that culminated in a grand event hosted by Henry Ford and President Herbert Hoover, cementing the light bulb's status as a symbol of American ingenuity.

Category: The 20th Century