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Official Use


It appears that Official plates were first introduced as early as 1924. The 1924 and '25 plates used the format described below. The remainder of the early plates thru 1935 followed the format shown in the 1926 and '27 plates shown below. In 1936 the format changed slightly and the plate legend became Official Use Only. In 1938 the format changed again with the appearance of the map outline and a return to Official as the legend. At least from 1940 to 1956 no plates had the term Official on them but there was a reserved block of numbers from the standard passenger series. In 1957 the legend again became Official Use Only. Plates were undated and had Pennsylvania within the top border. This series was used until 1965 or 66.

1924 - 1929



Text in red indicates changes from previous base/format.

1924 (first year)

Notes Number Plate Personalized Plate Sample Plate
- Observed serial range:11-S - 411-S

- Plates measure:
1-S - 99-S: 6" x 10"
100-S - 999-S: 6" x 12"

- Eric Tanner, found an article in the Altoona Mirror of December 13, 1923, describing all of the new code letters for 1924 types: "The numerals on state-owned cars are followed by the letter "S"."
(6" x 10")
From Jeff Lesher


(6" x 12")
From Eric Tanner		 Not offered on this format

1925

Notes Number Plate Personalized Plate Sample Plate
- Observed serial range:
22-S (only one plate known)

- Plates measure 6" x 12"
From Jeff Lesher		 Not offered on this format

1926

Notes Number Plate Personalized Plate Sample Plate
- Observed seial range:
1 - 317

- Plates measure 6" x 12"

- Regarding the #1 plate, according to the eBay seller, ultrararecollectables, who gave me permission to use the #1 image, it was used by Governor Gifford Pinchot, and the plate was a gift from the Governor to his grandfather who was the caretaker of Grey Towers in Milford, PA at the time. His father received the plate when he passed and the current owner in turn when he passed. There is no further provenance available at this time. Grey Towers in Milford, PA was the home of Gov. Pinchot. No plates this far back in history have been documented with the word Governor, so it is entirely possible that the earliest plates, with a legend, used the term Official prior to the use of the word Governor. Pinchot served as Governor from 1923 to '27 and from 1931 to '35. For now this plate will be cross listed with Governor plates.
From eBay (ultrararecollectables)


From eBay		 Not offered on this format

1927

Notes Number Plate Personalized Plate Sample Plate
- Observed serial range:
1 - 873

- Plates measure 6" x 12"
From Clayton Moore		 Not offered on this format

1928

Notes Number Plate Personalized Plate Sample Plate
- Observed serial range:
1 - 973

- Plates measure 6" x 12"
From unknown		 Not offered on this format

1929

Notes Number Plate Personalized Plate Sample Plate
- Observed serial range:
1 - 341

- Plates measure 6" x 12"
From Jeff Francis		 Not offered on this format