1987 Self-scouring Steel Plow – First Day Cover | Transportation Series

This iconic 1987 First Day Cover from the U.S. Postal Service’s Transportation Series commemorates the 150th anniversary of John Deere’s revolutionary self-scouring steel plow. Featuring a detailed 14¢ stamp and a classic ArtCraft cachet showing John Deere demonstrating his invention, it is a standout piece for agricultural history enthusiasts and collectors of American innovation.

🧾 Key Points:

• Country: United States of America
• Date of Issue: May 22, 1987
• City of Cancellation: Moline, IL
• Stamp Value: 14¢
• Theme: Self-scouring Steel Plow, 1837 | Transportation Series
• Historical or Cultural Relevance: Honors John Deere’s 1837 invention of the self-scouring steel plow, which transformed agriculture by making it possible to efficiently till the tough prairie soils of the American Midwest and helped open the Great Plains to farming
• Estimated Market Value: $5–$15 USD, depending on condition and demand

🖼️ Product Overview:

This First Day Cover features the official 14¢ stamp depicting a farmer using the self-scouring steel plow pulled by a mule. The left side shows a detailed black-and-white ArtCraft cachet illustrating John Deere demonstrating his improved steel plow to onlookers, with a separate line drawing of the plow itself.

Design Elements:

• 14¢ stamp showing a farmer guiding the steel plow through a field with a mule
• Prominent circular black postmark: “MOLINE, IL MAY 22 1987 61265”
• Cachet scene of John Deere demonstrating his improved steel plow to a group of interested farmers
• Clear line drawing of the self-scouring steel plow labeled “JOHN DEERE DEMONSTRATES HIS IMPROVED STEEL PLOW”
• Bold title: “Self-scouring Steel Plow” with “1837-1987 150 YEARS” and ArtCraft logo
• “Official First Day of Issue” at the top

Appeal to Collectors:

Highly appealing to collectors of the Transportation Series, agricultural history buffs, and those interested in American invention and the opening of the Midwest frontier.

📚 Historical Context:

Issued on May 22, 1987, in Moline, Illinois—home of the John Deere Company—this 14¢ stamp marks the 150th anniversary of John Deere’s groundbreaking invention. In 1837, Deere developed a polished steel plow that “scoured” itself clean of sticky prairie soil, solving a major problem that had previously made farming the rich Midwest nearly impossible. His innovation dramatically increased agricultural productivity and helped transform the American heartland into the nation’s breadbasket.

💎 Collectible Value:

Typical Market Value or Rarity:

As a well-designed ArtCraft First Day Cover from the Transportation Series with a clear Moline cancellation and strong agricultural theme, it remains readily available yet desirable for topical collectors and is typically valued in the $5–$15 range.

Who Would Be Interested:

• Collectors specializing in the U.S. Transportation Series stamps
• Enthusiasts of American agricultural history and John Deere memorabilia
• Philatelists interested in inventions that shaped the Midwest frontier
• Those building collections around farming tools, prairie settlement, and 19th-century innovation

✨ Unexpected or Notable Details:

The cachet vividly captures the moment John Deere demonstrated his new steel plow to skeptical farmers, highlighting the practical innovation that changed American agriculture forever. The separate detailed drawing of the plow itself adds educational value. Issued in Moline, Illinois—the heart of John Deere’s manufacturing empire—the postmark gives the cover strong geographic and corporate relevance to this landmark 150th anniversary tribute.

Add this rare 1987 Self-scouring Steel Plow First Day Cover to your collection today!