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Governor
The first Governor plate was issued in 1912. It is quite possible that more than one plate was produced per year. It cannot be said with complete certainty that all of the plates pictured below were actually in use on cars. This comment is based partially upon the lack of any wear marks around the bolt holes on some plates. It is also possible that a plate was used for a short period, given to someone as a prized souvenir or gift, and immediately replaced by another identical plate. Some of the above comments were provided by Eric Conner.
Prior to 1929, the history of Governor plates is a little spotty, as no #1 plate bore the word "GOVERNOR". Eric has not seen or heard of any Governor plates from the 1920s with the exception of 1929, although a #1 for the "Official" type is known for 1926.
Eric also points out that no “Governor” or #1 plates from the "Youve Got a Friend Base" to present have surfaced. It is believed that Governor Thornburgh (1979-1987) was the last governor to use the #1 license plate.
See article on first Governor's Plate: Governor Leads - First Governor Plate Article
1930 - 1939
1930
| Notes | Number Plate | Personalized Plate | Sample Plate |
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Plates measure 6" x 12" Manufactured in Pennsylvania prisons Colors: dark blue on gold Beginning in 1930, the Office of Governor used a license plate that featured the state coat-of-arms. These plates are commonly known as the “bread loaf” or “bread box” variety. The top plate also used an art deco type of frame. The center plate is the same format but has the raised loaf and coat of arms colors reversed. The coats-of-arms on both 1930s are not decals (like the later plates), but rather each one is hand-painted and signed by an artist named "Rice." These might be the only hand-painted coat-of-arms. The next image is the same plate zoomed and rotated to show Governor John S. Fisher's signature. It is only autographed governor plate known. The bottom plate has no raised loaf or coat of arms but instead has keystones flanking the state name and year. This may have been the front plate while the others were used on the rear. Used by Governor John Fisher. A newspaper article from 1929 indicates that for 1930 the #1 Official tag was to be issued to the Governor's official car, and Passenger #1 was to be issued to the Governor's personal vehicle. 1930 Governor's plates shown here do not correspond to the article. |
 From Eric Conner  From Eric Conner  (Autograph of Gov. Fisher on above plate) From Eric Conner  From John Willard |
Not offered on this format | Not offered on this format |
1931
| Notes | Number Plate | Personalized Plate | Sample Plate |
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Plates measure 6" x 12" Manufactured in Pennsylvania prisons Colors: gold on dark blue Used by Governor Gifford Pinchot. Also see article and comments on #1 unpainted aluminum over dark blue plate. |
 (Repainted) From Jake Eckenrode  From eBay (fairbrozz59)  From License Plate King Company |
Not offered on this format | Not offered on this format |
1932
| Notes | Number Plate | Personalized Plate | Sample Plate |
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Plates measure 6" x 12" Manufactured in Pennsylvania prisons Colors: dark blue on gold Used by Governor Gifford Pinchot. Sometime in the top plate’s past, someone stripped off all the original paint, and therefore the plate is in unpainted condition today. Evidence remains that the plate featured the coat-of-arms. The bottom plate is similar except for the center raised "loaf" which appears to have had a large, metal coat of arms attached to the plate; no serial number. It is not known if one was a front plate and the other a rear plate, or whether these were two different plate styles (official car vs. personal car). |
 From Eric Conner  From Eric Conner |
Not offered on this format | Not offered on this format |
1933
| Notes | Number Plate | Personalized Plate | Sample Plate |
| No information is known for this year. |  |
Not offered on this format | Not offered on this format |
1934
| Notes | Number Plate | Personalized Plate | Sample Plate |
|
Plates measure 6" x 12" Manufactured in Pennsylvania prisons Colors: dark blue on gold Used by Governor Gifford Pinchot. The top plate appears to have had a large, metal coat of arms attached to the plate; no serial number. No evidence of the metal coat of arms attachment on the bottom plate image. |
 From Eric Conner  From John Willard |
Not offered on this format | Not offered on this format |
1935
| Notes | Number Plate | Personalized Plate | Sample Plate |
| No information is known for this year. | |
Not offered on this format | Not offered on this format |
1936
| Notes | Number Plate | Personalized Plate | Sample Plate |
|
Plates measure 6" x 12" Manufactured in Pennsylvania prisons Colors: dark blue on gold Used by Governor George Howard Earle. |
 From Eric Conner  From John Willard |
Not offered on this format | Not offered on this format |
1937
| Notes | Number Plate | Personalized Plate | Sample Plate |
| No information is known for this year. | |
Not offered on this format | Not offered on this format |
1938
| Notes | Number Plate | Personalized Plate | Sample Plate |
| No information is known for this year. | |
Not offered on this format | Not offered on this format |
1939
| Notes | Number Plate | Personalized Plate | Sample Plate |
|
Plates measure 6" x 12" Manufactured in Pennsylvania prisons Colors: gold on dark blue Used by Governor Arthur James. |
 (Repainted) From Jake Eckenrode |
Not offered on this format | Not offered on this format |