Issued on January 3, 1913, the 1-dollar stamp announces the importance of industry in the western part of the United States. There were 1,053,273 million 1-dollar stamps issued.
The 1-dollar stamp is part of the third set of the series, which depicts the various industries that would avail themselves of the new parcel post service.
During the first six months of usage, the public and the postmasters found the requirement that these stamps be used solely for the parcel post rates confusing, and invariably they were used to pay regular postage rates. By July 1, 1913, the Post Office Department acquiesced to the confusion and allowed all the stamps to pay the regular rates. This is the only series of stamps that can claim that distinction.
Alan Berkun
