From 1906 through 1928, the selvage of United States postage stamps contained the initials of employees of the Bureau of Engraving (BEP), probably for reasons of quality control.  Typically, the first, middle, and last initial was used, each followed by a period.

The siderographer’s initials were placed in the lower left (LL) margin of a plate using a transfer roll, with the initials oriented upwards.  However, initials may appear in the bottom margin or the upper left (UL) margin.  Orientation of the initials was also sometimes reversed (reading downward, rather than upward). 

In 1908, when plate finishers began adding their initials to the plate, they were instructed to punch their initials in the lower right (LR) margin of the plate, with the initials oriented downwards.  However, plate finishers initials were also punched in the bottom margin, the LL margin, or the orientation of the initials was reversed.

For each plate of 400 stamps, normally just the LL and LR stamps on the plate will show initials in the selvage.

          The Third Bureau Issue, or Washington Franklins, were produced from 1908 through 1922.  Siderographer and plate finisher initials can be found on those stamps produced by Flat Plate printing, both sheet and coil stamps.  The Rotary press Washington Franklin stamps do not contain either marginal siderographer or plate finisher initials.  The Flat Plate and Offset press Washington Franklin stamps may contain printer's initials in the margin.

This presentation uses the Washington Franklin stamps to illustrate the initials of many of the Siderographers and Plate Finishers who worked to produce the Third Bureau Issue.  Each one of these stamps, in essence, carries the autograph of the individual(s) who produced it.

Click on the Initials/Names in the windows on the right to see examples of the individual's work.

Those that served in both capacities are cross-referenced.  Where multiple initials appear on a stamp, a cross-reference is also provided.