United States Special Delivery Postage Stamp (Scott #E14)

This is a United States Special Delivery stamp with a face value of 15 cents, originally issued circa 1925. The stamp features a central engraving in orange-yellow or golden-orange ink depicting a delivery messenger on a motorcycle, situated in front of a post office structure. This specific design was introduced in the mid-1920s to reflect the modernization of postal delivery services over the previous bicycle messenger motifs. The stamp is printed on white paper and exhibits standard postal perforations along all four edges. Notable markings include a heavy black ink cancel, likely a hand-stamped numeric or station marking featuring the digits '38', which indicates it was used for its intended purpose. The engraving shows fine detail, characteristic of the Bureau of Engraving and Printing's flat plate or rotary press production from that era. In terms of condition, the stamp appears to have intact perforations, though some 'furriness' is visible along the edges suggesting paper fiber wear. The centering of the design is slightly shifted toward the top-right margins. There are no immediate signs of catastrophic tears or creases, but the heavy cancel slightly obscures the central motorcycle motif. This item represents a transitional period in American history where motorized vehicles replaced human or bicycle-powered delivery methods.