The History Behind the U.S. Helmet of Mercury Stamp
For the launch of the Mystic Rare Stamps website, we’re pleased to present our first featured article.
On December 12th, 1908, the status of United States Special Delivery stamps changed with the issuance of the Helmet of Mercury stamp. The new stamp was designed by the famous architect Whitney Warren, who in partnership with Charles Wetmore, designed the New York Central Terminal, the New York Yacht Club, and the Biltmore, Roosevelt, and Commodore Hotels. Before the Helmet of Mercury stamp, special delivery stamps had featured a postman in a horizontal, rectangular stamp in a blue or ultramarine color. Warren’s stamp featuring a winged hat symbolizing speedy delivery had a square format with a green color. The unusual change in color paralleled one other short period of a color change to orange, which surrounded the Columbian Exposition. The color and shape of the Special Delivery stamps in use were being confused with the one-cent Columbian Issue.
Unfortunately for the Helmet of Mercury stamp, some people within the Bureau of Engraving & Printing, the Post Office Department and the general public were not big fans of the new special delivery stamp. The stamp was one of the last ones issued by the Post Office Department under Postmaster General George von Lengerke Meyer of the Roosevelt Administration. President’s Taft’s Postmaster General Frank Hitchcock who took office in March, discontinued the stamp’s sale in June of 1909, six months after the stamp was released!
Since then, the Helmet of Mercury stamp has become one of the most recognizable United States back-of-the-book stamps. It has one of the most intricate and beautiful designs of the period. Warren’s design for the 1908 Special Delivery stamp was borrowed from the ancient Roman god Mercury, messenger of the gods, the god of roads and travel, as well as the god of commerce, property and wealth. Mercury delivered messages wearing a winged hat and winged sandals, carrying a snake-entwined staff to protect him in his travels. Mortal messengers in ancient times wore hats similar to Mercury’s and carried staffs as identification guaranteeing freedom of passage. It was the perfect symbol for modern special delivery workers for whom speed was essential. It’s too bad the public at the time didn’t see the stamp the way collectors do today.
Postmaster General Hitchcock did not demonetize (devalue) the stamp, which still made it valid for use to prepay the ten-cent special delivery fee. Due to the limited period of sale and public regard for the stamp, 1908 Helmet of Mercury stamps used to prepay the special delivery fee in period on cover are very rare and desirable. There’s no better way to own this important stamp than on a cover being used for its intended purpose.
