United States Second Bureau Issue

This site is dedicated to the United States Second Bureau series of postage stamps. Designed in 1902 and produced beginning later that year, the series comprises fourteen denominations—from one cent up to five dollars—plus a special replacement for the 2-cent value. The ornate designs were engraved by the U.S. Bureau of Engraving and Printing and remained in use until the early years of the twentieth century when they were superseded by the Washington-Franklin issues. Among the designs is the first regular U.S. stamp portraying a woman: the 8-cent Martha Washington. The original 2-cent George Washington “flag” design proved unpopular and was replaced in late 1903 by the 2-cent “shield” design.

I have had the pleasure of exhibiting my postal history collection three times with all attempts garnering a Vermeil ribbon (scans to my 2011 exhibit). The Gold award is elusive, but I look forward to its pursuit.

Below you’ll find each stamp in the series. Click on a stamp to explore more information and view larger images..

International Destinations

Follow the Second Bureau issue to more than 100 corners of the globe with routed covers, postcards, and exotic waypoints that document the reach of early 20th century U.S. mail.

Explore the destinations

$2 and $5 Censuses

Dive into the ongoing census of the $2 Madison (Scott 312) and $5 Marshall (Scott 313) high denomination stamps used on cover or piece.

See the 2-dollar census and 5-dollar census

Tau Doane Census

A focused look at the Tau, Samoa Doane postmark with images of all recorded uses.

Review the Tau records