Thomas Edison and the Bulb

by Bill DiPaolo

T his article is purposed to relate events leading to the issuance of Electric Light’s Golden
Jubilee commemorative stamps issued June 5 and 11, 1929 and the Jubilee celebration,
report production details of the stamp, explore collectible opportunities and demonstrate
some of the unusual usages of each stamp format.

Introduction
For a stamp whose origins and use tell
an interesting and unique story, it has
not been able to inspire much attention
among collectors. Other than some
work by Gary Griffith, a few quick
mentions in the philatelic press and 3½
pages in Johl’s classic The United States
Commemorative Stamps of the Twen-
Figure 1. Thomas Edison. tieth Century, there is little in-depth
information available in philatelic literature on the origin and use of the three stamps com-
memorating Electric Light’s Golden Jubilee. Johl speculates that because of the poor stamp
design, collector interest was not stimulated, and the stamp forgotten (Note 1). Such was
not the case for the debut of the stamp. The stamp and the event it commemorated gener-
ated a great deal of excitement in its day, but it does appear that collector interest waned.
While current sources do provide good production information, which has been verified
and reported here, there has been little detail on the origin of the celebration that initiated
the stamp, nor has much been reported about collecting opportunities and available usages.
There are three parts to this article. Part I deals with the background events that led to the
stamp’s creation. Part 2 provides the design and production information for the stamp, and
Part 3 explores usages and collecting opportunities. This effort is the culmination of a fif-
teen-year interest in the stamp. It has been a lonely road.
Apologies in advance for any omissions. The Covid-19 restrictions made travel to complete
later stages of research impossible.

Part 1: The Jubilee: A Public Relations Ballyhoo

In the second half of 1928, there was still plenty of optimism in the country, though har-
bingers of trouble were rumbling beneath the surface. The Federal Trade Commission had
begun an investigation of the National Electric Light Association (NELA) whose principal
purpose was to discourage public ownership of electric utilities. An important member of
the Association was General Electric (Note 2). It was in this environment that the Edison
Pioneers, a society of Edison’s old associates, asked General Electric, with Westinghouse as a
lesser partner, to underwrite a major national event around the 50th anniversary of Thomas
Edison’s invention of the light bulb which had occurred October 21, 1879. The event would
be called “Electric Light’s Golden Jubilee.” As the company was under Congressional scru-
tiny for monopolistic practice, General Electric welcomed participation in the event as a
sound public relations investment.
General Electric, which had been formed in 1898 with a group of Edison companies at its
core, was a natural selection by the Pioneers for a sponsor. The company had frequently

BILL DI PAOLO – Thomas Edison and the Bulb 57

 Figures 2a–c. Cinderella stamps
honoring Edison Day, produced by
General Electric.

traded on the Edison name and had created commercial events for many years around the
October 21 anniversary date of the bulb’s invention, which the company labeled “Edison
Day.” Until this point the largest, most visible “Edison Day” was celebrated during 1915
at San Francisco’s Panama-Pacific Expo, where Edison and other dignitaries appeared at
various events around the city to promote General Electric’s products (Figs. 2a–c and 3).
General Electric frequently capitalized on its Edison connection and often took advantage
of the aging inventor.
A General Committee for “Light’s Golden Jubilee” was formed and listed industry giants
of the day. Its membership included Walter Chrysler, John D. Rockefeller, Andrew Mellon,
Charles Schwab plus 49 other notables. Serving as Honorary Chairman of the Committee
was United States President, Herbert Hoover. To manage day to day affairs from a New
York City office, GE employee J. F. Quinlan was appointed Executive Secretary. The
Committee described the event as “A worldwide expression of gratitude to Thomas Alva
Edison celebrating the 50th anniversary of his incandescent bulb.” (Note 3). It must be
pointed out that, from the beginning, the celebration was a commercial project designed to
encourage the purchase and use of electrical products and further the objectives of NELA.

Figure 3. Postcard with General Electric Pavilion at Panama-Pacific Exposition, 1915.

58 THE CONGRESS BOOK 2021

 Figure 4. Thomas Edison (at the right) with Henry Ford.

The accomplishments of Edison and the man himself were the bait to stimulate national
interest. GE and Westinghouse wanted to sell more bulbs and remain private companies.
Meanwhile, Edison’s great friend, Henry Ford, learned of General Electric’s planned take-
over of the Golden Jubilee, and the company’s desire to capitalize on the famous inventor.
Edison was somewhat of a hero to Henry Ford, who would accept no one taking advantage
of his good friend (Fig. 4). They had met a year before the bulb was invented and became
fast friends, even becoming next door neighbors in Ft. Meyers, Florida where Edison win-
tered and maintained a laboratory. To protect his friend, Ford, with the encouragement of
the Edison family became involved in the event planning. As a start, he convinced Edison
to move the planned event from Schenectady, New York, General Electric’s home, to Dear-
born, Michigan, Ford’s home territory. After some
debate between Ford, Edison and General Elec-
tric, the major celebratory event was set as Octo-
ber 21, 1929 in Dearborn. With that done, Ford in
effect took control of the event from General Elec-
tric, though GE remained an active participant. It
did not help the General Electric cause that many
of the plans under development were done with-
out consultation with Edison. Now, it was Ford
who would be the recognized leader of the Jubi-
lee. Ford had no problem with the commercial
exploitation by General Electric, but wanted to
be certain that Edison, himself, was shielded and
seen only in the best possible light.
In February 1929, a major step by General Electric
was to engage Edward L. Bernays (Fig. 5). Bernays,
acknowledged as the father of public relations, has
been called “The Prince of Puff ” and “The Baron
of Ballyhoo.” Never one to think small, Bernays Figure 5. Edward Bernays.

BILL DI PAOLO – Thomas Edison & the Bulb 59

 Figure 6. View of the light display on Atlantic City boardwalk at night created for the start of the
Jubilee and first day of the National Electric Light Association convention.

broadened the event beyond the Dearborn festivity by providing information to newspa-
pers and communities around the country, encouraging them to plan their own celebra-
tions to coincide with the 50th anniversary. He saw great opportunities in exploiting what
was probably the greatest invention of the times along with its inventor. Unknown then
were the many opportunities that would fall to the philatelic community because of Ber-
nays’ efforts, far more than for a typical commemorative.
Under Bernays’ expanding view, extensive publicity for the event would begin in May 1929
by saturating local newspapers and other media outlets with information. The formal kick-
off was to be on June 6, 1929 to coincide with the opening of the National Electric Light
Association convention in Atlantic City. Atlantic City, a summer resort town, provided
complete support to the event which would literally shine the spotlight on its brand-new
convention hall and the city itself just in time for the busy summer season (Fig. 6).
During this time, Edison had been working twelve-hour days in his Ft. Meyers, Florida lab
fully involved with rubber experiments (Note 4). (Fig. 7) Not wanting to suspend his work,
he refused a late invitation to return north for both the first day issue of the stamp and the
convention. Not even Henry Ford could convince him to attend. He did appear at the con-
vention through a “movietone” taken at his Florida home especially for the event. Henry
Ford made a special trip from Dearborn to Atlantic City. Disliking public appearances, he
made a 27-word speech that made no mention of Edison nor the Jubilee.
Under Bernays’ influence, the Jubilee would be a six-month celebration beginning at the
end of May involving schools, cities and towns with special displays, parades and fireworks
all over the United States, culminating with a grand celebration in Dearborn, Michigan on
Edison Day, October 21, 1929, the 50th anniversary of the invention of the light bulb. The
event so captured America, George M. Cohan wrote a song, Edison – the Miracle Man and
Admiral Byrd named a beacon in the Artic after Edison.
In time for the Dearborn extravaganza, Henry Ford created Greenfield Village in a suburb
of Dearborn, where he would locate the Edison Institute. In the Village, he reconstituted

60 THE CONGRESS BOOK 2021

 Figure 7. Real photo card of Edison and his wife in Ft. Meyers, FL. Card incorrectly identifies
location as Ft. Lauderdale.

the original building and laboratory where Edison invented the bulb, moving the building
piece by piece from Menlo Park, New Jersey (Fig. 8). In Ford’s mind, this would be the big-
gest and best event possible for his friend, Thomas Edison. To that end, what better place to
house the Institute than Independence Hall. Ford dispatched his architect to Philadelphia
with instructions to buy Independence Hall from the city and move it to Greenfield. While
the architect tried to convince Ford that there was no chance this plan would be approved,
Ford still insisted that he try. Since Philadelphia was not particularly keen on that idea, Ford

Figure 8. Reconstruction of Edison’s Menlo Park laboratory in Greenfield, MI.

BILL DI PAOLO – Thomas Edison & the Bulb 61

 Figure 9. Original news-
paper photo taken of the
Golden Jubilee celebration
October 21, 1929 at Detroit’s
Old City Hall. Hoover and
Edison are standing at the
far right of the draped plat-
form. Edison is wearing a
derby hat.

constructed a replica of the building in the Village (Note 5). These buildings became part of
the Edison Institute of Technology.
October 21 was a truly spectacular day in Dearborn and across the United States. This is
evidenced by the eight column headlines across the front page of the Detroit Free Press re-
porting on the festivities. The day began with a welcome celebration for Edison and Presi-
dent Hoover on the steps of Detroit’s City Hall (Fig. 9). Then a short train ride to Greenfield
Village to be greeted by the world’s most important business, cultural and technology nota-
bles that included, in addition to the distinguished committee, people like Orville Wright,
Will Rodgers, J. P. Morgan, Marie Curie, Adolph Ochs, George Eastman and the President
of the United States among over 400 other noteworthy guests. On that day, guests could
also enjoy the National Air Tour at Ford Field, close to the Village. The air tour schedule had
been planned to end in Dearborn as part of the festivity (Fig. 10). The banquet that evening
was the toughest ticket in town. Demand was so great, some of the Light’s Golden Jubilee
committee members were out of luck. Certain factions of the Edison Pioneers were left out.
This was ironic since the idea of a celebration was originally proffered by that organization.
To compensate, the Pioneers planned their own major celebration in Menlo Park to coin-
cide with the Dearborn event (Fig. 11).
In Dearborn, as part of the evening’s celebration, Edison recreated the moment of inven-
tion of the light bulb from the replica of his laboratory that Ford had created in Greenfield.
The event was broadcast on the radio, and craggy voiced Edison spoke to the country of his
appreciation for the recognition and ended with a special mention of Ford.
In many cities, lights were turned off as a reminder how impactful this invention was. Other

62 THE CONGRESS BOOK 2021

 Figure 10. Air Tour cover, Greenfield, MI, October 21, 1929.

cities like Washington and Atlantic City were brilliantly illuminated. All this to pay homage
to the 82-year-old inventor, whose many discoveries impacted the lives of everyone around
the world.
While Edward Bernays played an important role in the event, and many have ceded credit
for its success to him, there are those who feel that Bernays exaggerated his participation.
The anti-Semitic Ford was not a great fan of Bernays, who had been hired by General Elec-
tric, and found his constant pres-
ence annoying. This is borne out by
a telegram sent as late as October
9, 1929 from F. R. Schell, Edison’s
assistant to Frank Campsall, Ford’s
Assistant Secretary (Note 6). The
telegram asks if Bernays is autho-
rized to make arrangements for the
Dearborn event. While Bernays’
role was acknowledged, it was sug-
gested that any communication be
through F. L. Black, the Director of
Greenfield Village. It is undisputed
that the day was truly a magnifi-
cent tribute to Thomas Edison and
his accomplishments. But Bernays’
ideas were the genesis for many of
the plans and programs implement-
ed for the Jubilee from the big kick-
off at the Atlantic City Convention

Figure 11. Notice sent to Edison Pi-

oneers concerning events for October
21. Courtesy of Thomas Edison Center,
Menlo Park, NJ.

BILL DI PAOLO – Thomas Edison & the Bulb 63

to the Grand Finale at Greenfield Village – not the least of which was his claim of initiating
the idea for a postage stamp to commemorate the event.

Part 2: The Stamp

The origin of the idea for a stamp commemorating the 50th anniversary of the bulb cannot be
precisely determined. Some reports indicate that Henry Ford contacted President Hoover
and wrote directly to the Postmaster General requesting a stamp to honor Edison and his
achievements. Other sources attribute the initiative to J. F. Quinlan in his role as Executive
Director of the committee. A search of Post Office files does not provide a definitive
answer, though extant evidence points to Quinlan as the most influ-
ential during the development process. He was most definitely the
liaison between the sponsors of the event and the Post Office and pro-
vided, from General Electric, principal input for the stamp’s design.
In his book, Biography of an Idea: Memoirs of a Public Relations Coun-
sel, Edward Bernays suggests that it was he who had the idea, and con-
tacted the Postmaster General, Walter F. Brown in May 1929 (Note
Figure 12. Small die 7). This is unlikely since the stamp was released in early June. While
proof. the stamp was on a “fast track,” an announcement was made to the
philatelic community in early May by New Jersey Congressman and well-known philatelist
Ernest Ackerman, that a stamp honoring Thomas Edison would be released. (Ackerman is
a member of the American Philatelic Society Hall of Fame.) There is no doubt that issuing
a United States stamp lent great credibility to what had been created as a public relations
effort. The official announcement by the Post Office Department came on May 20, 1929:
“THOMAS ALVA EDISON COMMEMORATIVE STAMP
Third Assistant Postmaster General,
Washington, May 20, 1929.
Postmasters and others connected with the Postal Service are notified that the depart-
ment is about to issue a new 2-cent postage stamp to commemorate the fiftieth anniver-
sary of the production of the first incandescent lamp invented by Thomas Alva Edison.
The new stamp is the same size as the 2-cent ordinary stamp, 75/100 by 87/100 inch,
and is printed in red ink. The central design is a picture of the original lamp with rays
issuing therefrom. Immediately above and partly encircling the lamp is a ribbon with
the words “Edison’s First Lamp”; above this and reaching the top of the stamp is a semi-
circular panel with the words “United States Postage” in white Roman letters. In both
upper corners are ribbon scrolls with the year “1879” at the left and “1929” at the right.
On either side of the lamp and through the rays of light appears the following legend:
“Electric Light’s Golden Jubilee.” The white numeral “2 “ appears in both lower corners
within dark circles, which are connected by a dark panel forming the base of the stamp
and containing the word “Cents” in white Roman letters. The new Edison commem-
orative stamp will first be placed on sale June 5, 1929, at the post office at Menlo Park,
N. J. The stamps will be available at other post offices and at the Philatelic Agency, Post
Office Department, Washington, D. C, as soon after that date as production will permit.
This stamp will also be issued in coils of 500, sidewise perforated. The coils will not be
available on the first day of sale but will be issued to postmasters having need for that
variety as soon as they can be manufactured. Central and direct accounting postmas-
ters desiring a supply of the new stamps may draw requisitions for limited quantities
on Form 3201, the words “Edison Commemorative Stamp” to be written plainly on the
blank. District postmasters may obtain small quantities of this stamp to meet the local

64 THE CONGRESS BOOK 2021

 demand by requisition on their central accounting postmasters. Stamp collectors de-
siring first-day cancellations of the Edison stamp at Menlo Park, N. J., on June 5, 1929,
may send a limited number of addressed envelopes, not in excess of 25, to the postmas-
ter at that office, accompanied by a remittance covering the value of the stamps, which
will be affixed to the envelopes prior to mailing on the above date.
R. S. REGAR,
Third Assistant Postmaster General.”
It is interesting to note that while the commemorated event was Electric Light’s Golden
Jubilee, the post office announcement refers to the stamp as the “Thomas Alva Edison
Commemorative Stamp.” While the general philatelic population will identify the stamp
as the “Edison Commemorative,” the Scott Standard Postage Stamp Catalogue correctly
recognizes the stamp for the event it celebrates. Even so, collectors refer to the stamp as
the “Edison Commemorative” or the “Bulb.” Though not much study has been given to this
stamp, it stands out from the “2¢ reds” in a number of significant ways.
First, this was a stamp issued, for the most part, as part of a publicity campaign. Moti-
vation for the stamp was driven by commercial interest. That was certainly the intent of
General Electric. It was Henry Ford’s intervention that brought more focus on Edison’s
accomplished career. Even at that, the six-month celebration turned public attention to
electricity, the intent all along. While it was and is not uncommon to celebrate industrial
achievement with a commemorative stamp, none has been quite so blatantly commercial.
For that, we can thank Edward Bernays.
Second, the stamp was issued in multiple formats. While there have been commemoratives
issued using both the rotary and flat plate presses (Mothers of America), this is the only
commemorative stamp to also be issued in a coil format. It is also the first commemorative
to be printed on the rotary press (Note 8). The reasons behind multiple presses and formats
will be reviewed later.
Third, while the first stamp was issued June 5, 1929, the day before the official opening of
the event, the rotary press and coil format were not issued until after the event started
( June 11).
Fourth, there are more than the usual typical collecting dates for this stamp. Normally, the
first day of issue is the singular event that requires the usage of the celebrated stamp. For the
Bulb, there were two first day dates, the flat plate on June 5, 1929 then the rotary and the
coil on June 11. The first day of the National Electric Light Association convention in Atlan-
tic City of June 6, 1929, where the stamp was available, is sought by collectors. This was also
the first date available at the Philatelic Bureau in Washington, DC. Then, there is the day
of the big celebration, October 21, 1929 in Greenfield, Michigan, produced by Henry Ford.
There were also October 21 celebrations at other cities around the country, including Men-
lo Park, which created cachets and/or postmarks for the event. The Golden Jubilee was also
commemorated in many cities with their own programs from June 6 to October 31. Edison
died only two years after the Golden Jubilee. Since his name is on the stamp it is also used
on covers commemorating his death, October 18, 1931, just three days before Edison Day.
Finally, setting the Bulb apart from other commemoratives of the period, is the quantity
issued. Normally, commemoratives of the 1920’s and 1930s were printed in quantities well
under 100 million, with most in the range of 25 million to 50 million stamps, depending on
the Post Office estimates of demand. For this stamp approximately 375 million were issued.
This is an astounding number for a commemorative. More about this later.
The Post Office announcement tells us only that a stamp will be issued. It does not mention

BILL DI PAOLO – Thomas Edison & the Bulb 65

that the stamp will be printed on two presses. It does announce that there will be a coil
format released in rolls of 500. Approximately 90 days after the original announcement and
60 days after the first day, a second Post Office notice announced that coils will now be
distributed in rolls of 3,000. This announcement, too, refers to the “Edison Stamp” rather
than the Golden Jubilee.
“COILS OF 3,000 EDISON STAMPS
Third Assistant Postmaster General,
Washington, August 13, 1929.
Postmasters are notified that in addition to the issuance of the Edison commemorative
stamps in coils of 500, sidewise perforated, as stated in the original notice, which ap-
pears on page 15 of the June guide, provision has now been made for the furnishing of
a limited quantity of this stamp in coils of 3,000 as needed by patrons for use in special
affixing machines.
Postmasters at direct and central accounting post offices who receive requests from
local patrons for 2-cent Edison commemorative stamps in coils of 3,000 may submit
requisition to the department for the quantity required, using Form 3201—A suitably
endorsed.
In this connection postmasters are reminded that all requisitions for coils of 3,000
stamps should, if possible, be drawn for full boxes containing eight coils each to con-
form to stock packing. When there is good reason for it, a half box containing four coils
can be furnished. Requisitions calling for an odd number of 3,000 stamp coils will be
changed in the department to the nearest even amount to conform to standard packing.
F. A. TILTON,
Third Assistant Postmaster General.”
In his book, Max Johl maintains that the coil format was originally issued in rolls of 500 and
1,000 stamps (Note 9). There is no evidence that rolls of 1,000 were ever issued. Documents
from the Bureau of Engraving and Printing through the Third Assistant Postmaster, show-
ing quantities printed, list only rolls of 500 and 3,000 (Note 10).
Some cursory articles about these stamps have reported that the rotary issue was not orig-
inally planned and came only after there was a demand for the flat plate. That was not the
case. Though the rotary press stamp is never mentioned in pre-release publicity, it had al-
ways been the intent of the Post Office to use the rotary press. Because the Post Office,
through the Jubilee committee, knew there would be great commercial demand for the
stamp in advance, utilization of the more efficient rotary press was planned. The initial or-
der for 180 million stamps was entered on May 14, 1929. The flat plate quantity was to be
30,000,000 and the balance evenly split between rotary press and coils (Note 11). Demand
was so great additional quantities were ordered – flat plate: 1.7 million, rotary: 135 million,
coil: 58.5 million. The later printing of the flat plate stamp went to the Philatelic Agency.
Design
Another unusual aspect of this stamp was that the original design approaches were not
created under the direction of the Post Office. Original designs were created by General
Electric and passed to the Post Office Department through the Committee’s Executive Di-
rector, J. F. Quinlan.
These original designs by General Electric were first reported by Gary Griffith in the Au-
gust 1997 edition of Scott Stamp Monthly and later expanded in his book, United States
Stamps, 1927–32 (Note 12). Griffith illustrates what were previously unpublished designs

66 THE CONGRESS BOOK 2021

Figure 13. Initial design Figure 15. The approved
by the Bureau of Engrav- second design by the Post
ing and Printing that was Office. There is a manu-
not approved. script “Approved” and ad-
ditional notation of “.75
Figure 14. At right, wide.” The design was most
photograph of Edison’s likely approved by PMG
bulb provided to the Bu- Walter Brown or possibly
reau of Engraving and Michael L. Eidness, Super-
Printing to provide a mod-e intendent of the Division
l for the stamp’s design. of Stamps.

for the stamp that were submitted to the Post Office Department by Quinlan (Note 13). As
the design process developed, Edison’s name became more prominent. One of the latter
designs is shown in Figure 13. It was this effort that became the basis for the final design of
the stamp. It is interesting to note that there was apparently little controversy over the use
of Edison’s name on the stamp. While it was post office policy not to commemorate the
living, even the Post Office referred to the stamp as the Edison Commemorative. The use of
a living person’s name was not unprecedented. In 1927 the 10¢ Lindbergh Air Mail stamp
was issued (C10) celebrating his transatlantic flight.
All designs of the stamp centered around the bulb. Early designs pictured a contemporary
bulb. The final designed reproduced the design of the original bub. A photograph was pro-
vided by General Electric on which the design is based (Fig. 14). The Bureau completed the
design using the classic bulb and making Edison’s name larger (Fig. 15). Alvin R. Meissner
is credited with the design of the stamp. J. C. Benzing engraved the vignette and ornaments.
The frame and lettering were engraved by E.M. Hall.

Scott 654, Flat Plate Printing

Color: Carmine Rose. A deep carmine
rose variation is listed by Johl. Scott lists
lake, but it is unpriced.
Perforation: 11.
No watermark.
Size: 19 mm x 22 mm.
Quantity printed: 31,679,200.
Issued: June 5, 1929 at Menlo Park, NJ.
Stamps were available at the Philatelic
Bureau and at the Atlantic City Conven-
tion June 6, 1929.
Production: Printed on a flat press in
sheets of 400. Each sheet was divided Figure 16. Plate block of flat plate printing.

BILL DI PAOLO – Thomas Edison & the Bulb 67

into panes of 100 by horizontal and vertical guidelines. Each pane had two plate numbers.
These are collected as a block of six with the number at the middle stamp.
Plate numbers: 19775, 19776, 19777, 19778.
Plate varieties: Two minor varieties reported. Plate 19778 – “T” in
“CENTS” has small dot of color (#71, UL); plate 19776 – circle above
“S” in “LIGHTS” (#11, UR).
Production varieties: Johl identifies a paper fold at the corner of a sheet
causing portions of positions 90, 99 and 100 to be printed on the back.
When folded back, there is a large white space at the lower right corner.
Figure 17. Paper Examples with paper creases are also known (Fig. 17). The number of
crease, flat plate stamps impacted is not known.
printing.

Scott 655, Rotary Printing

Color: Carmine Rose.
No watermark.
Perforation: 11x 10½.
Size: 19 mm x 22½ mm.
Quantity printed: 210,119,474.
Issued: June 11, 1929 at Washington, DC.
Production: Printed on a rotary press in sheets
of 400. Sheets were separated into four panes by
5/16 inch vertical and horizontal gutters. Panes
were separated in the middle of the gutters so that
there were no stamps with straight edges. There Figure 18. Plate block of rotary press
was a plate number at each corner of the sheet, printing.
providing one number for each pane.
Plate numbers: 19779, 19780, 19796, 19797, 19806, 19807, 19808, 19809 (Note 14).
Plate varieties: Plate 19779 – line connects left “2” with frame (#91, LL) ( Johl).
Production varieties: Paper fold after printing resulting in freak perforation at position 91.
(Fig. 19). Gutter snipes are known. (Fig. 20)

Figure 19. Rotary press paper fold. Courtesy of Figure 20. Rotary press gutter snipe. C
John Nebecker. ourtesy of John Hotchner.

68 THE CONGRESS BOOK 2021

 Figure 21. Coil pair with attached leader strip identifying roll size of 500.

Scott 656, Rotary Coil

Color: Carmine Rose.
Perforation: 10 vertically.
No watermark.
Size: 19½ mm x 22 mm.
Quantity printed: 133,530,000. 128,682,000 were in rolls of 500; 4,848,000 were in rolls of
3,000.
Issued: June 11, 1929 at Washington, DC.
Production: Stamps were printed on 170 stamp plates with a pair required for the press.
This resulted in a joint line every 17 stamps. Plate numbers were positioned above the first
stamp and below the last stamp. A star (*) preceded the top number.
Plate numbers: 19781, 19782, 19794, 19795, 19802, 19803, 19804, 19805 (Note 15).
Plate varieties: None known.
Production varieties: Line pairs, miscuts showing plate number (Fig. 22); paste ups.

Figure 22. Plate number strip with star showing 50% of plate 19782 with
star. From collection of Francis Ferguson.

Identifying each stamp is rather straightforward. The easiest is by perforation. It is 11 x 11 for

the flat plate printing, 11 x 10½ for the rotary and 10 vertical for the coil. For mint stamps,
the glue can sometimes be a giveaway. For the flat plate printing the glue is, well, flat. Since
the rotary press required curved plates, gum breakers, appearing as small ridges, run hori-
zontally across the back of the stamp. Additionally, since plate configurations are different
for the three stamps, the measurements of each stamp differ slightly. These measurements
are given above in the production information for each stamp.
There were requests from collectors along with support from two New Jersey Congressmen
that the stamp also be issued in imperforate form. The Congressmen were Harold Hoffman,
representing Menlo Park, and Ernest Ackerman, a serious philatelist who represented New

BILL DI PAOLO – Thomas Edison & the Bulb 69

Jersey’s Fifth District. Rumors flowed before the stamps were issued that an imperforate
format would be available. This did not occur. In an article in Scott Stamp Monthly, Gary
Griffith reported the response of Third Assistant Postmaster General, Fredrick Tilton, to
the request:
“The department has always adhered strictly to the rule of issuing postage stamps as
needed for mailing purposes, without regard to the demands of stamp collectors, re-
gardless of the fact that a substantial amount of postal revenue would be received from
the sales of odd postal issues to collectors if they were made available.” (Note 16).
While this quote does advance the story, it has been included largely to provide a laugh for
readers.
It is interesting to analyze the catalog pricing of these three stamps – a paradox often point-
ed out by students of this issue. There are fascinating inferences that clearly demonstrate
the impact of the collecting community. A review of the quantities printed would logically
bring one to the speedy conclusion that the flat plate stamp would be the most difficult to
acquire and the most expensive. After all, both the rotary and coil issues each had printings
that were 5 plus times more than the flat plate printing. Here is the big difference. The flat
plate printing was bought by collectors; the rotary and coils were bought by businesses.
Regardless of printing size, more mint flat plate stamps were saved by collectors than from
the rotary and coil printings. The result is that a mint flat plate six stamp plate block can be
purchased for less than the rotary four stamp plate block. It is true that plate configuration
provided two flat plate blocks per pane as opposed to one for rotary panes, but printing
quantities provided millions more rotary blocks.
Because so much of the flat plate issue was saved by collectors in mint form, the opposite is
true for used copies and covers. The cost of a flat plate on cover is 4x that of a rotary press
stamp on cover. Even though this is a substantial difference, given the circumstances, in-
cluding the low printed quantity, flat plate stamps on cover seem to be undervalued. Com-
mercially used covers with flat plate stamps without a philatelic influence are very scarce.
For the coil stamp, the market was to companies for commercial purposes as was the case
for other coils of the time. Large roll quantities precluded purchase by the general collect-
ing community. Use was primarily on common junk mail and bills, most of which were
discarded. Of the three formats, despite a substantial printing, the coil’s value is markedly
higher whether mint, used or on cover.
In spite of the large printing quantity, the Golden Jubilee stamp is one of the few of the
period that has significantly increased in value, particularly the coil format. The pricing
premium of these mint coil stamps is somewhat of a mystery when compared to other coil
stamps. For example, most of the Prexie coils starting at the 4¢ value and including the
low value Prexie vertical coils, had printings that were substantially lower than the “Bulb,”
but the Jubilee coil commands prices for a mint line pair that are twice as much, and up to
almost twenty times more than the Prexies. There seems to be no shortage of pairs or line
pairs of the Jubilee coil. Scarce are longer strips, and very scarce are leader strips, paste-ups
and plate number miscuts.
For collectors of this stamp, it should be noted that stamp centering was not as reliable
during this period when compared to later issues as the Fourth and Fifth Bureau Issues.

Part 3: Usage
The search for usages of any commemorative frequently offers a challenge to collectors.
Stamps that are part of a definitive series are produced for years after their first appearance
and are the stamps most commonly used for the mails. The Prexies, for example, made

70 THE CONGRESS BOOK 2021

their appearance in 1938 and the last Prexie was issued in 1960. Alternatively, a commem-
orative has a half-life of about six months to one year. Unless you are a collector or have
some affiliation with the celebrated event, there is little motivation to purchase or use the
stamp over what would be the current definitive. This is the reason for the relatively small
production quantities of commemoratives with a good percentage of the production run
going to collectors to save as mint stamps or to be used to frank philatelic event covers. It
is not at all uncommon to experience significant difficulty finding interesting uses of most
commemorative stamps beyond payment of their intended rate.
For the Golden Jubilee stamp, the situation was somewhat different. The Post Office knew
in advance that there would be a large commercial demand for this stamp, which provided
the rationale for use of the rotary press and production in the coil format in addition to the
flat plate printing. As previously mentioned, this resulted in a production 6 to 8 times great-
er than other commemoratives of the period. Initially, 180,000,000 were printed and later
another 150,000,000. Companies with an electrical connection (no pun intended), commit-
ted to using the stamp for correspondence and billing purposes throughout the year. This
commercial need was the specific reason coils were produced. Before the widespread use
of meters, companies demanded coils, which could be efficiently applied by affixing ma-
chine. The use of both affixing and dispensing machines would frequently clip perforations
or even cut into the stamp’s design adding to the difficulty of locating acceptable copies.
Under these circumstances, one could easily conclude that good and interesting examples
of the Electric Light Golden Jubilee stamp on cover would be reasonably plentiful in spite
of its short life. Such a conclusion would be only partially correct. Philatelically inspired
covers from first days, flights and other events during 1929 are available in substantial num-
bers as are first class usages, but other usages that would be of greatest interest to postal
historians are in short supply. A study over the past ten years reveals that over 98% of the
available covers represent philatelic events or a common first-class use. Even among the
small 2 % group of other usages, a large portion have a philatelic connection.
Though the stamp was widely used by businesses, these covers were evidently considered
junk mail and lost to collectors.
First Day Of Issue

Figure 23. Cover for first day of flat plate issue, June 5,1929. Autographed by Thomas
Edison.

BILL DI PAOLO – Thomas Edison & the Bulb 71

An essential usage for any stamp is on the first day of issue. Though the vast majority of
these covers are created as philatelic souvenirs, it is an important and desirable area for
many collectors. Because of the Edison connection, this stamp generated substantial first
day interest, particularly in northern New Jersey, where the Edison home and labs were
located. For the Golden Jubilee stamp, there was some initial argument about the issue date
and location for the first day ceremony. Bernays and General Electric, through the Jubilee
Committee, argued strongly for Atlantic City as the location and the opening day of the
National Electric Light Association convention, June 6, 1929, as the first day issue date. The
commercial interests did not prevail as the Post Office felt that since the stamp celebrated
the invention of the bulb, what better place than the town in which that event occurred.
Menlo Park, New Jersey was the chosen place, and the date of June 5, 1929 was selected for
the premiere of the flat plate version of the stamp (Fig. 23). And a wild scene it was.
Residents of Menlo Park’s small population watched in amazement as collectors and deal-
ers from all over the country began to line up at the tiny post office, a cottage at Postmaster
James F. Shepard’s home. Waiting for the 8 am opening, the collector line began before 7
am. By 8:30 am about 50,000 stamps had been sold. In attendance at the event was Michael
L. Eidsness, Superintendent of the Post Office Department’s Division of Stamps along with
a crew from the Philatelic Sales Agency (Fig. 24). Eidsness received the first two stamps
sold. The first he mailed to J. F. Quinlan, Chairman of the Jubilee Committee. Enclosed
was a letter from Postmaster General Brown noting “the patience and industry which you
have shown in the worthwhile task of commemorating Mr. Edison’s notable achievements.”
(Note 17). The second went to Congressman Harold Hoffman, whose district included
Menlo Park. The first three stamps to be mailed went to President Hoover, Henry Ford and
Thomas Edison. These were posted by 2-year-old Mary Ann Peins, daughter of Rudolph
Peins, one of the Edison Pioneers (Note 18).
The first air mail package with the new stamp was sent to Thomas Edison at his Fort Meyers
home from the Postmaster General. In the package, was a leather presentation binder with
the first die proof struck and this inscription:
“This, the first impression of a special postage stamp, issued by the Post Office De-
partment of the United States of America in commemoration of the 50th anniversary
of the invention of the incandescent lamp, by Thomas Edison, is presented to him in
evidence of the Department’s appreciation of his notable contribution to the welfare
of mankind.”
It was wrapped and rimmed with the Jubilee stamps and one Lindbergh air mail stamp.
To handle the anticipated crowds, Albert Gahwe, Chief Postal Inspector from the Philadel-
phia post office brought a crew of ten to assist along with two electric Universal cancelers
to Menlo Park (Note 19). The small Menlo Park post office had only a standard 4 bar hand
cancel. The machines from Philadelphia and the Menlo Park hand cancel provide us with
two different first day cancels (Fig. 24). Later that afternoon, Charles Edison, Thomas Ed-
ison’s son, visited the post office and autographed covers for those who requested them.
Other members of the Edison family also attended (Fig. 25). Menlo Park originally received
400,000 stamps, which sold out the first day. A second shipment of 400,000 was sent to
complete first day orders which were backdated to June 5. One newspaper speculated that
more business was done in that post office in one day than it would normally do in thirty
years (Note 20).
For collectors, there is ample opportunity to add unofficial cities, particularly towns in
northern New Jersey. Many in the crowd evidently left Menlo Park that day and stopped
at other nearby post offices for a cancellation. Examples are also known from Washington,

72 THE CONGRESS BOOK 2021

 Figure 24. FDC signed by Michael Eidsness at Menlo Park. Cover shows both FDC cancels
used. From the collection of Rodney A. Juell.

DC and New York. While there is no accurate census of unofficial cities, it does appear that
they are more frequent for the Bulb than other commemoratives of the period. There are
more than 15 known, most in New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
Two other dates are important for first day of issue collectors. The first is June 6, 1929. This
was the first day that the flat plate stamp was available at both the Atlantic City Convention
and the Philatelic Bureau in Washington, DC. In Atlantic City, a temporary post office was
set up to sell the stamp with Henry Ford as the first in line. Cancellations from both cities
would be desirable. The second date is June 11, 1929 which was the first day of issue for both
the rotary press stamp and the coil in Washington, DC (Fig. 26). Both a duplex and Inter-

Figure 25. Letter sent to

Edison and his wife by their
daughter in law, Ann Oster-
hout Edison, wife of Theo-
dore. Letter from Charles
Edison Fund Collection,
Newark, NJ: Edison Family
Papers.

BILL DI PAOLO – Thomas Edison & the Bulb 73

 Figure 26. Dorothy Knapp cachet for first day of Jubilee coil, June 11, 1929 with International
cancel. The cover is unique as is the similar design for the flat plate printing. From the Eldon
Mohler collection through the courtesy of Doug Weisz.

national machine cancel were used in Washington on June 11. Several different slogans are
found on the International cancels. Table 1 lists their approximate frequency. There were
far fewer covers serviced on June 11 than June 5. This accounts for the pricing premium for
rotary and coil first day covers.

Table 1. Cancellation frequency for 655 and 656 FDCs.

Duplex Cancel 10%
REGISTER/OR/INSURE/VALUABLE MAIL 10%
LETS GO/CITIZENS/MILITARY/TRAINING/CAMPS 75%
AIRMAIL/SAVES TIME 5%
There are over 30 pre-printed cachets plus their varieties for the June 5 issue. Many of the
same cachets were used for the June 11 issues. There is one special cachet known for the
coil. An A. C. Roessler design was used with the line “COIL STAMP” added (Fig. 27). There
are no known additional cachets for June 6.
Beyond First Days
There are two other important dates to consider collecting. The first is October 21, 1929.
This was Edison Day with the major celebration at Henry Ford’s Greenfield Village, outside
of Dearborn. For this event, a special cancel was available (Fig. 29). There is one first day ca-
chet that was modified for the major October 21 celebration (Fig. 30). The cachet is found
in at least two different variations and is known with cancels from Greenfield, Menlo Park,
New York, Washington, DC and various US cities named “Edison.” Additionally, there is
a Menlo Park cachet stamped on cover. It is in the shape of a light bulb and is commonly
found in green. It is also known in magenta and black (Fig. 31). Also available, but scarce, is
a three-line rubber stamp from Menlo Park (Fig. 32). The second collectable opportunity is
Edison’s death date, October 18, 1931. Since it was so unusual to have a stamp celebrating
an individual’s achievements while still alive, it is only natural that collectors would use that
stamp to commemorate his death (Note 21).

74 THE CONGRESS BOOK 2021

 Figure 27. Roessler cachet redesigned for the coil stamp issued June 11, 1929.

Figures 28a–b. One can also

discover many unlisted one-of-a-
kind original drawings and inter-
esting corner cards. These corner
cards were particularly popular
as souvenirs given the commercial
purpose of this stamp. Any com-
pany with a connection to Edison
and the electric companies across
the country were the primary par-
ticipants. Uncacheted examples of
the June 5 flat plate issue are quite
common with both the machine
cancel and the manually applied 4
bar cancellation.

BILL DI PAOLO – Thomas Edison & the Bulb 75

 Figure 29. Special cancellation
created for Edison Day at Green-
field Village.

Figure 30 FDC cachet modified for Edison Day. Gorham cachet serviced by E.C. Emeigh.
Washington, DC, October 21, 1929.

Beyond, this there are event covers from various cites celebrating the Jubilee with various
dates through the summer. Most have special cachets celebrating the city where the Jubilee
is celebrated (Fig. 33).
There is a cachet from Menlo Park that celebrates the 75th anniversary of the bulb in 1954
with the 1929 stamp. The design is a bulb, but somewhat modified from the October 21,

Figure 31. Menlo Park cancel on Oct 21, 1919, Edison Day. Cachet was usually in green.
Additional scarcer magenta cachet. Also postmarked West Orange, NJ, October 19, 1931, Ed-
ison’s death day. Courtesy of Thomas Edison Center, Menlo Park, NJ.

76 THE CONGRESS BOOK 2021

 Figure 32. A three-line rubber
stamp from Menlo Park.

Figure 33. Dallas, TX, October 19, 1929 with Texas State Fair cachet.

1929 example. The cachet can be found as an add-on

twenty-five years after the Golden Jubilee franked
with all three stamp formats (Fig. 34).
Only a few of these cachets celebrating the Golden
Jubilee are listed in Mellone’s.
So far, all mentioned dates have had an obvious tie in
to Edison or the Jubilee. But philatelically inspired
usages with no relationship to Edison are plentiful.
Though there are no specific numbers, this stamp
seems to appear more frequently than other com-
memoratives of the day on this class of cover. This
is particularly evident in the area of flight covers,
including foreign and domestic first flights, airport
dedications, zeppelin and catapult flights (Fig. 35).
While all formats are represented in these examples,
there does appear to be a preference for the coil.
Business Use Figure 34. 75th anniversary cachet
As has been previously mentioned, the chief use of from Menlo Park.
the three stamps was for business mail, particularly
the rotary press and coil stamps. Based on a request by the Jubilee Committee, companies
affiliated with the electric industry had committed to use the stamp on their correspon-
dence throughout the year to promote the Jubilee. It was this commitment by business
that provided the rationale for the Post Office to produce the first commemorative coil, so
that stamps could be efficiently applied by affixing machines. (Fig. 36). Covers with corner

BILL DI PAOLO – Thomas Edison & the Bulb 77

 Figure 35. New York to Germany, July 27, 1929 via catapult. German sea post cancellation
on Roessler cover. Rate is 5¢ UPU surface plus 15¢ catapult fee. Rotary press stamp.

cards of these electricity-oriented companies are regularly found with first class franking
(Fig. 37).
Two other postage usages are often employed by business firms for efficiency and security
– precancels and perfins.
The use of precanceled stamps for businesses with volume postage needs was common
through the first half of the twentieth century. However, despite heavy corporate use of
the Bulb, there are no Bureau precancels in either the rotary or coil printings. It was Bu-
reau policy not to precancel commemoratives. There is an illegitimate Double Line Electro
(DLE) precancel from Covington, KY, that pops up from time to time. The cancel for this
stamp was fraudulently applied to the rotary press (655) stamp by a collector using an au-
thentic post office plate (Fig. 38).

Figure 36. Miscut by coil affixing machine.

78 THE CONGRESS BOOK 2021

 Figure 37. Commercial first class from Thomas A Edison, Inc., July 30, 1929.

Figures 38 and 39a–b. Faked precancel; Coil precancel, Bellflower, CA,

and flat press East Pittsburg, PA pair. Note the guideline at the top of the
flat press printing. Both precancels are local.

There are a few known local precancels – Concordia, KS; Chicago, IL; Santa Ana, CA;
Findlay, OH; St. Louis, MO; and Worcester, MA. All of these are rotary press. A flat plate
precancel is known from East Pittsburg, PA. There are coil local precancels known from
Rochester, NY; Niles, MI; and Belle Flower, CA (Fig. 39). Undoubtedly, there are other
local precancel cities than listed here, but their number would be few.
Currently, no commercial (or philatelic for that matter) use on cover has been seen. And
according to one expert well versed in precancels, it would be a remarkable occurrence if
one turned up.
Perfins are a different matter. This is the process of perforating the surface of a stamp with
initials by a company to help prevent theft. Perfins on commemorative stamps are not com-
mon but because of the commercial interest in the stamp, they can be found on the Bulb
stamp with some effort. The use shown in Fig. 40, ironically, has no affiliation with electric-
ity, the prime users of the stamp. This cover has the perfin of R. G. Dun & Co., the predeces-
sor company to Dun & Bradstreet, the credit reporting firm. While perfins are known from
a few companies, there is not currently a list of companies specific to this stamp.
Surface Mail
It is no surprise that any stamp issued to pay the first class rate would be most likely utilized
for domestic mail. And the vast majority of extant covers would be single weight first class
letters. Beyond that criterion, covers with the Bulb, or any other commemorative issued
for the first class rate, are hard to come by. But all is not lost. The diligent collector can still

BILL DI PAOLO – Thomas Edison & the Bulb 79

 Figures 40a–b. R.G. Dun perfined Bulb pays surface to Columbia. SCADTA stamp pro-
vides air service in Columbia. “EU” overprint indicates the stamp was purchased in the
United States.

find interesting usages of the lowly first class rate (Fig. 41). Special service fees paid by this
stamp beyond special delivery or registration should be considered real finds (Fig. 42).
International surface usages are available with European destinations being the most com-
mon and registration as the most common special service (Fig. 43), though those noted as
requiring a return receipt (AR) are rare as are other rate categories (Fig. 44). The United
States maintained special conventions with a number of countries that allowed rates for
surface mail other than the 5¢ UPU rate. This rate was available to many South American
and Caribbean countries as well as Canada, Mexico and Great Britain (Fig. 45). The surface
rate to these countries was 2¢.

Figure 41. First class letter sent New York to Washington to Albert Wash-
burn while Ambassador to Austria. Forwarded there by diplomatic pouch.
S/L “Forward in Pouch.” February 12, 1930.

80 THE CONGRESS BOOK 2021

 Figure 42. Supplementary mail from New York to France. Rate is 5¢ UPU surface
plus 5¢ supplementary fee for late arrival to the ship.

Figure 43. Registered Rhode Island to Iraq, September 7, 1929. Rate is 15¢ registra-
tion plus 5¢ UPU surface.

Figure 44. Double printed matter rate for postcard folder, New York
to Scotland. Mailed from Atlantic City during the Jubilee celebration.

BILL DI PAOLO – Thomas Edison & the Bulb 81

 Figure 45. New York to Mexico City, September 26, 1929. 2¢ surface treaty rate.

Air Mail
At the time the Jubilee stamp was issued, air mail was just coming into its own. It was only
eleven years before that the first scheduled air mail service was inaugurated with a flight
from Washington to New York. By 1929 air mail was a fairly common service around the
United States. What had been complicated zoned rates settled into a single country-wide
rate as government contract routes became commonplace. Beginning August 1, 1928, air
rates were standard across the country at 5¢ first ounce and 10¢ for each additional ounce
(Fig. 46). These rates continue until July 6, 1932 when rates increased to 8¢ for the first
ounce and 13¢ for additional ounces. Though few and far between, Bulb franking can still
be found on non-philatelic mail for that period.
For international destinations, it is another story entirely. The availability of air service de-
pended on the foreign destination as air mail service was not yet implemented in many
areas of the world. For the most part, many destinations called for different rates depending
upon place and routing. While these rates and combinations can be deciphered utilizing
U.S. International Postage Rates, 1872–1996 by Wawrukiewicz and Beecher and appropri-
ate Postal Bulletins, some can still be puzzling.

Figure 46. August 4, 1929, double weight air mail from Seattle, WA, to Austin, MN.

82 THE CONGRESS BOOK 2021

 Figure 47. UPU surface rate from Philadelphia to British Guiana, December 1929.

Even though air mail pilot Charles Lindbergh had flown non-stop across the Atlantic two
years before (1927), only zeppelin service was available for trans-ocean mail. Neither con-
ventional trans-Atlantic nor trans-Pacific air mail service had yet been initiated. Any mail
bound for Europe or Asia had to go surface at least a portion of the way. But international
air mail was expanding rapidly. By 1930, Pan Am was serving both coasts of South America.
There were a number of options for mailers with overseas destinations:
• Surface all the way. (Fig. 47)
• Air in the US to the exchange office, then surface to the final destination. (Fig. 48)
• Surface in the US and overseas to a port of entry, then air mail to the final destination.
(Fig. 49)
• Air in the US to exchange office, surface to port of entry, air to final destination. (Fig. 50)
• Air all the way depending on final destination. (Fig. 51)
• Finding covers that demonstrate these many options with the Bulb is a challenge that will
require hours of “cover flipping.”

Figure 48. Milwaukee, WI, to St. Lucia paying 4¢ air surcharge for air service in the
U.S. September 30. 1929.

BILL DI PAOLO – Thomas Edison & the Bulb 83

 Figure 49. Cover went surface from New York to London (5¢ UPU), then air to
Copenhagen (6¢ air surcharge).

Figure 50. FDC routed by air to west coast, ship to Australia (6¢), then air in Aus-
tralia (6¢ surcharge.). Australian postage pays local forwarding with air surcharge.

Figure 51. Miami to Nassau, January 11, 1930. Cover pays 5¢ FAM from Miami,
FL, effective March 21, 1929.

84 THE CONGRESS BOOK 2021

Ironically, in a New York Times 1931 interview, Edison was asked about aviation. Though
Edison was considered a visionary, he commented, “I would not go up in an ordinary air-
plane though. I think the ordinary airplane is good for mail and baggage, but not for pas-
sengers.” (Note 22).
Beyond The Rate
During the search for postal history, collectors will often discover covers with a great deal
of philatelic interest, yet what is fascinating about the cover has little to do with the rate or
destination.

Figure 52. Special delivery letter from the United Kingdom to Pennsylvania. Surface
rate paid with UK stamp. Special delivery fee paid with U.S. stamps applied abroad
and canceled in the United States.

Figure 53 Crash cover. CAM 17, Chicago to New York, crashed and burned April
26, 1929 in Clearfield, PA. March 26 M/S date on cover is incorrect.

BILL DI PAOLO – Thomas Edison & the Bulb 85

 Figure 54. Private Railway Express cancel. Though handled by a private carrier,
post office required the payment of postage.

Figure 55. International reply card mailed from Germany, November 2, 1931.

Figure 56. Addressed to International Merchant Marine Co. for White Star steam-
er Adriatic, docked at quarantine station in New York possibly because of measles.

86 THE CONGRESS BOOK 2021

GOODBYE, MR. EDISON
Early morning on October 18, 1931, just three days short of Edison Day, Thomas Edison, the
“Wizard of Menlo Park,” left a world into which he literally brought light. He succumbed to
kidney failure surrounded by family in his West Orange, NJ, home. Private funeral services
were held on October 21, Edison Day, the fifty-second anniversary of the bulb’s invention.
The coverage of the 84-year-old inventor’s death was worldwide, and the family flooded
with condolences.
Collectors dug into their stock books for Jubilee
stamps and created covers memorializing Edison’s
death. As the “Edison Commemorative” of the time,
these stamps were a natural for this use. While some
of these covers appear to be backdated, Edison’s
death was at 3:45 AM, and was immediately an-
nounced around the world (Figs. 58 and 59). This cer-
tainly gave collectors plenty of time to get to the post
office for a date of death cancel. Extant cachets were,
for the most part, handmade (Fig. 60) though some
cachets designed for the stamp’s first day were used.
There is a memorial cachet, rimmed in black with a
portrait of Edison (Fig. 61). These can be found with
a four bar cancel from Edison, Ohio and Washington,
dated October 18, 1931. Covers with this cachet are
also known from Milan, OH, and Greenfield, MI.
There are also memorial cachets added to first day Figure 57. Thomas Edison.
covers, primarily of the flat plate printing.
Throughout his life, with all the honors, praise and recognition heaped upon him, no occa-
sion impacted Edison more than the magnitude and events of the Electric Light’s Golden
Jubilee that were celebrated across the country. The Jubilee moved Edison deeply as evi-
denced in his radio remarks, haltingly delivered, during the evening of the October 21 event
in Greenfield Village:

Figure 58. Postmarked from Edison’s hometown at 4:00 am, October 18, 1931.
Edison’s death was announced at 3:30 am.

BILL DI PAOLO – Thomas Edison & the Bulb 87

Figure 59. Bulb stamp overpays 1¢ transient rate to forward newspapers on a newspaper announcing
Edison’s death. Edison died early October 18, the date of the postmark. The newspaper is for October 19.

“This experience makes me realize as never before, that Americans are sentimental,
and this crowing event of Light’s Golden Jubilee fills me with gratitude. As to Henry
Ford, words are inadequate to express my feelings. I can only say to you, that in the
fullest and richest meaning of the term – he is my friend.
Good night.”

AFTERWORD
As time progressed during the development of this stamp,
when the Post Office assumed a more active role in its de-
sign and development, emphasis, at least as far as the stamp
was concerned, moved from the General Electric objective
of selling light bulbs and promoting electricity to the Post
Office objective of honoring Edison. This is seen in the evo-
lution of the design as the Edison name became more prom-
inent and with the Post Office’s continual reference to the
stamp as “the Edison Commemorative.”
In 1947 as part of the Famous Americans series, the United
States issued a stamp (Scott 945) specifically to honor Edi-
son. This is the real and only Edison commemorative issued
by the United States. Since his death, more than fifty stamps
have been issued by countries around the world honoring
the man and his achievements beyond the light bulb.

Figure 60. Handmade cachet on #10 envelope commemorating

Edison’s death. Postmarked on Edison Day and day of the funeral,
October 21, 1931, West Orange, NJ.

88 THE CONGRESS BOOK 2021

 Figure 61. Commemorating Edison’s death, October 18, 1931, Edison, Washington.

Post Office files show a number of requests lobbying for additional stamps honoring the
inventor. In what was almost an instant replay of the Golden Jubilee, during 1951 there
was a letter writing campaign to the Postmaster General to issue a stamp honoring Edison
and the 75th anniversary of the invention of the phonograph. Like the Jubilee, this was
initiated by the Edison Pioneers and quickly gained the support of commercial interests
who could profit from the publicity. Phonograph manufacturers like Zenith, RCA and Mo-
torola offered their influence. The Post Office refused citing the fact that two stamps had
already been issued honoring Edison. Twenty-five years later, in 1977, a stamp was issued
commemorating the 100th anniversary of the invention the phonograph, the Centennial
of Sound (Scott 1705), without any mention of Edison. In 1954 there were requests for
another stamp honoring the 75th anniversary of the light bulb. The Post Office considered
that event already commemorated by the Golden Jubilee stamp and refused to consider it
(Note 23).
As of this date the total number of stamps honoring Edison by the United States still stands
at two. A total of eight stamps have been issued honoring Batman.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
As always, with an effort as this, thanks are due to folks all around the country who so read-
ily offer their knowledge and resources. So, thank you to Arnold Selengut, BEJJCO Stamps
in Florida; Doug Weisz, Weisz Stamps and Covers in Chicago, Rachael Winston, Curator,
Thomas Edison Center, Menlo Park, NJ; John Nebecker, also known as Tasmanianman
on eBay; Francis Ferguson in Florida, Rodney Juell in Illinois; Baasil Wilder and William
Lommel, National Postal Museum in Washington; Murray Abramson in Massachusetts; the
folks at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing in Washington. To all of you, your help was
deeply appreciated. A special thanks to John Hotchner in Virginia for his pre-publication
review and suggestions.

Bibliography
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Armstrong, Martin A. United States Coil Issues 1906–38. Martin A. Armstrong Enterprises,
Lawrenceville, NJ, 1980.
Bernays, Edward L. Biography of an Idea: Memoirs of a Public Relations Counsel. Simon and

BILL DI PAOLO – Thomas Edison & the Bulb 89

Schuster, New York, NY, 1965.
Bivins, Thomas H. “A Golden Opportunity? Edward Bernays and the Dilemma of Ethics,”
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Griffith, Gary. “Deeper into U.S.” Stamp Collector, p. 6, May 11, 1998.
Griffith, Gary. “The Edison Commemorative Stamp,” Scott Stamp Monthly, pp. 13–14, Au-
gust 1997.
Griffith, Gary. “United States Stamps, 1927–1932,” Linn’s Stamp News, Sidney, OH, 2001.
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Reston, VA, 1997.
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226–234.
Linn’s Stamp News, 2001.
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June 2005.
Luce, D. “Report on Light’s Diamond Jubilee,” Edison Electric Institute Bulletin. December
1954.
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www.cambridgehistory.org/discover/inovation/Edward%20Bernays.html.
New York Times, June 6, 1929; June 7, 1929; October 19, 1931.
Plattsburg Sentinel, June 7, 1929.
Rich, Steven, “The Precancel in the Regular Postage Collection,” American Philatelist, Vol.
50 No. 7, p. 367, April 1937.
Tye, Larry. The Father of Spin: Edward Bernays and the Birth of Public Relations. Crown
Books, 1998.

End Notes
1. Johl, Max G. The United States Commemorative Stamps of the Twentieth Century, p. 137.
2. Thomas H. “A Golden Opportunity? Edward Bernays and the Dilemma of Ethics,” Amer-
ican Journalism, Vol. 30, No. 4, 2013.
3. Printed on the official letterhead of Light’s Golden Jubilee.
4. New York Times, March 7, 1929, p. 6.
5. Bernays, Edward. Biography of an Idea: Memoirs of a Public Relations Counsel, pp. 444–
460.
6. From Rutgers Edison Papers, Rutgers University, retrieved at https://edison.rutgers.
edu/digital.htm.
7. Bernays, Edward. Biography of an Idea: Memoirs of a Public Relations Counsel, pp. 444–
460.
8. This assumes that the Harding memorial stamp is considered a memorial issue, not a
commemorative.
9. Johl, Max G. The United States Commemorative Stamps of the Twentieth Century, p. 138.

90 THE CONGRESS BOOK 2021

10. Letter from Third Assistant Postmaster to C.H. West, March 4, 1936. Secured from files
of Third Assistant Postmaster, National Postal Museum.
11. Griffith, Gary, “United States Stamps, 1927–32,” Linn’s Stamp News, 2001, p. 212. Based
on letter from Third Assistant Postmaster General to Secretary of Treasury, May 14,
1929.
12. These two articles, along with Johl, have provided the most comprehensive information
to date, particularly as it relates to the design origins of the stamp.
13. These illustrations are believed to be in the files of the Postmaster General. Covid-19
quarantines, closings and restrictions have prevented a thorough search of these files
to obtain quality reproductions which could be used here. They are reproduced and
explained in the Griffith article.
14. 19806, 19807, 19808, 19809 are scarcer plate numbers.
15. Plates 19803, 19804, 19805 are considered rare.
16. Griffith, Gary. “The Edison Commemorative Stamp,” Scott Stamp Monthly, August
1997, p. 14.
17. Johl, Max and King, Beverly. United States Postage Stamps of the Twentieth Century, Vol-
ume II, Commemoratives, 1923–1933, 1934.
18. New York Times, June 6, 1929 p. 11.
19. Plattsburg Sentinel, June 7, 1929, p. 5.
20. Ibid.
21. See pp. 88–89 for examples.
22. New York Times, October 19, 1931, p. 25.
23. Files of the Third Assistant Postmaster General accessed through the National Postal
Museum, Washington, DC.

Bill DiPaolo has been a dealer and an avid for-

ty-year collector of modern postal history with
special attention to the Prexies. His exhibits
in this area have been consistently awarded
large gold medals and represented in the APS
Champion of Champions exhibition. Active in
many philatelic organizations, he is an accred-
ited literature judge and has authored numer-
ous articles. His book, Puerto Rico During the
Spanish American War, 1898–1900, was recent-
ly published by the United States Possessions
Philatelic Society and has been awarded multi-
ple large gold medals.

BILL DI PAOLO – Thomas Edison & the Bulb 91