Complete Listing of All Delaware Plate Types
Passenger & Non-Passenger Special Backgrounds Legislative & Judicial Military & Veteran Colleges & High Schools Misc. Non-Profits Surf & Defunct
Legislative & Judicial →
Governor
1913
Manufacturer: Unknown
Material: Porcelain
Colors: White on black
Dimensions: 6.5" x 9.75"
Pairs/singles?: Pairs
Notes: This was the first year that #1 was issued to the Governor and it has been reserved for their office ever since (confirmed through newspaper records).
1914
Manufacturer: Baltimore Enamel & Novelty Company (Baltimore, MD)
Material: Porcelain
Colors: Yellow on black
Dimensions: 5.5" x 11"
Pairs/singles?: Pairs
1915
Manufacturer: Baltimore Enamel & Novelty Company (Baltimore, MD)
Material: Porcelain
Colors: Indigo on white
Dimensions: 5.5" x 11"
Pairs/singles?: Pairs
1916
Manufacturer: New York Metal Ceiling
Material: Steel
Colors: White on green
Dimensions: 6.25" x 15.25"
Pairs/singles?: Pairs
1917
Manufacturer: New York Metal Ceiling
Material: Steel
Colors: White on black
Dimensions: 6.25" x 15.25"
Pairs/singles?: Pairs
From eBay
1918
Manufacturer: Unknown
Material: Steel
Colors: White on brown
Dimensions: 5 1/2" × 13 3/8"
Pairs/singles?: Pairs
1919
Manufacturer: National Colortype Co. (Bellevue, KY)
Material: Steel
Colors: White on dark blue
Dimensions: 5.75" x 10.75"
Pairs/singles?: Pairs
1920
Manufacturer: National Colortype Co. (Bellevue, KY)
Material: Steel
Colors: Black on light green
Dimensions: 5 5/8" x 13 3/8"
Pairs/singles?: Pairs
1921
Manufacturer: National Colortype Co. (Bellevue, KY)
Material: Steel
Colors: Red on white
Dimensions: 5 5/8" x 13 3/8"
Pairs/singles?: Pairs
Via Erik Thompson
1922
Manufacturer: National Colortype Co. (Bellevue, KY)
Material: Steel
Colors: Blue on white
Dimensions: 5 3/8" x 15"
Pairs/singles?: Pairs
From Aaron Dunphy
1923
Manufacturer: National Colortype Co. (Bellevue, KY)
Material: Steel
Colors: White on black
Dimensions: 5.5" x 13.5"
Pairs/singles?: Pairs
1924
Manufacturer: National Colortype Co. (Bellevue, KY)
Material: Steel
Colors: Brown on cream
Dimensions: 5.5" x 13.5"
Pairs/singles?: Pairs
1925
Manufacturer: National Colortype Co. (Bellevue, KY)
Material: Steel
Colors: Black on orange
Dimensions: 5.5" x 13.5"
Pairs/singles?: Pairs
1926
Manufacturer: National Colortype Co. (Bellevue, KY)
Material: Steel
Colors: Yellow on blue
Dimensions: 5.5" x 13.5"
Pairs/singles?: Pairs
1927
Manufacturer: National Colortype Co. (Bellevue, KY)
Material: Steel
Colors: Red on gray
Dimensions: 5.5" x 13.5"
Pairs/singles?: Pairs
1928
Manufacturer: National Colortype Co. (Bellevue, KY)
Material: Steel
Colors: Black on white
Dimensions: 5.5" x 13.5"
Pairs/singles?: Pairs
1929
Manufacturer: National Colortype Co. (Bellevue, KY)
Material: Steel
Colors: Colonial Blue on yellow
Dimensions: 6" x 15"
Pairs/singles?: Pairs
From Reid Williamson
1930
Manufacturer: National Colortype Co. (Bellevue, KY)
Material: Steel
Colors: Yellow on Colonial Blue
Dimensions: 6" x 15"
Pairs/singles?: Pairs
From Reid Williamson
1931
Manufacturer: National Colortype Co. (Bellevue, KY)
Material: Steel
Colors: Colonial Blue on yellow
Dimensions: 6" x 15"
Pairs/singles?: Pairs
From Reid Williamson
1932
Manufacturer: National Colortype Co. (Bellevue, KY)
Material: Steel
Colors: Yellow on Colonial Blue
Dimensions: 6" x 15"
Pairs/singles?: Pairs
From Reid Williamson
1933
Manufacturer: National Colortype Co. (Bellevue, KY)
Material: Steel
Colors: Colonial Blue on yellow
Dimensions: 6" x 15"
Pairs/singles?: Pairs
From Reid Williamson
1934
Manufacturer: National Colortype Co. (Bellevue, KY)
Material: Steel
Colors: Yellow on Colonial Blue
Dimensions: 6" x 15"
Pairs/singles?: Pairs
From Reid Williamson
1935
Manufacturer: National Colortype Co. (Bellevue, KY)
Material: Steel
Colors: Colonial Blue on yellow
Dimensions: 6" x 15"
Pairs/singles?: Pairs
From Reid Williamson
1936
Manufacturer: Grote Brothers (Bellevue, KY)
Material: Steel
Colors: Yellow on Colonial Blue
Dimensions: 5 3/8" x 10 1/2"
Pairs/singles?: Pairs
From Reid Williamson
1937
Manufacturer: Grote Brothers (Bellevue, KY)
Material: Steel
Colors: Colonial Blue on yellow
Dimensions: 5 3/8" x 10 1/2"
Pairs/singles?: Pairs
From Time Magazine
1938
Manufacturer: Grote Brothers (Bellevue, KY)
Material: Steel
Colors: Maroon on silver
Dimensions: 5 3/8" x 10 1/2"
Pairs/singles?: Pairs
1939
Manufacturer: Grote Brothers (Bellevue, KY)
Material: Steel
Colors: Silver on maroon
Dimensions: 5 3/8" x 10 1/2"
Pairs/singles?: Pairs
From Dave Lincoln
1940
Manufacturer: National Colortype Co. (Bellevue, KY)
Material: Steel
Colors: Blue on yellow
Dimensions: 6.25" x 10"
Pairs/singles?: Pairs
Notes: Courtesy plate known. A courtesy plate is a second plate without the "GOVERNOR" legend, perhaps for a second or spouse's vehicle. This is the first year where a courtesy plate is observed. The courtesy plate for this year measures 5.5" x 9.5".
From Dave Lincoln
(Courtesy plate)
From Dave Lincoln
1941
Manufacturer: National Colortype Co. (Bellevue, KY)
Material: Steel
Colors: Yellow on blue
Dimensions: 5.5" x 9.5"
Pairs/singles?: Pairs
From eBay
1942 - Early 1947
Manufacturer: Varies, see notes
Material: Porcelain
Colors: White on black
Dimensions: 5.5" x 9.5"
Pairs/singles?: Pairs until March 1943, then singles
Notes: In early 1941, State Senator Harold W. T. Purnell introduced a bill that would create a permament license plate with room for inserts that would be updated every year.
From Dave Lincoln
Early 1947 - June 1959
Manufacturer: Unknown
Material: Stainless steel
Colors: Silver/off-white (Scotchlite) on black
Dimensions: 5.5" x 9.5"
Pairs/singles?: Singles
Notes: The state switched to stainless steel plates in early 1947. These plates featured numbers that were spot riveted onto the plate and tab slots to continue using the same style of tab that had been in use up to that point. In late 1950/early 1951, reflective Scotchlite tape was applied to numbers. The United States mandated that all license plates measure 6" x 12" starting in 1956. Delaware was the last state to switch to this new standard in 1958. Courtesy plate known. A courtesy plate is a second plate without the "GOVERNOR" legend, perhaps for a second or spouse's vehicle.
(Steel numbers)
(Scotchlite numbers)
From Dave Lincoln
(Scotchlite numbers,
courtesy plate)
From John Anshant
(Scotchlite numbers, 6" x 12")
June 1959 - June 1962
Manufacturer: Unknown
Material: Steel (briefly), then aluminum
Colors: Gold on dark blue
Dimensions: 6" x 12"
Pairs/singles?: Singles
Notes: Two variations: (1) thinner "DELAWARE", straight-leg "R" in "DELAWARE", and (2) thicker "DELAWARE", curved-leg "R" in "DELAWARE".
(Thinner "DELAWARE")
(Thicker "DELAWARE")
June 1962 - Autumn 1968
Manufacturer: Unknown
Material: Aluminum
Colors: Gold on dark blue
Dimensions: 6" x 12"
Pairs/singles?: Singles
Notes: "THE FIRST STATE" slogan added for the first time. Courtesy plate known. A courtesy plate is a second plate without the "GOVERNOR" legend, perhaps for a second or spouse's vehicle.
From Dave Lincoln
(Courtesy plate)
From Dave Lincoln
Autumn 1968 - circa 2010
Manufacturer: Demco (Milford, DE) until July 2002, then unknown
Material: Aluminum
Colors: Gold on dark blue
Dimensions: 6" x 12"
Pairs/singles?: Singles
Notes: Two distinct fonts for "1" observed: (1) Thicker "1", latest sticker observed is 1987; and (2) thinner "1", earliest sticker observed is 1989. Blue on gold Governor plates are also known beginning June 1974, perhaps done as souvenir plates. Courtesy plate known. A courtesy plate is a second plate without the "GOVERNOR" legend, perhaps for a second or spouse's vehicle. Governor Carper (served January 1993 - January 2001) was the last Governor to use #1 on a vehicle. Since then, the Delaware State Police has recommended that the Governor and Lt. Governor (#2) do not use their plates as they may pose a security risk.
(Thicker "1")
From Plateshack
(Thinner "1")
From eBay
(Courtesy plate)
From Dave Lincoln
From Nick Kanaya
Circa 2010 - Present
Manufacturer: Waldale Manufacturing Limited (Nova Scotia, Canada)
Material: Aluminum
Colors: Gold on dark blue
Dimensions: 6" x 12"
Pairs/singles?: Singles
Notes: Centennial #1 observed.
From Jordan Irazabal
From Jordan Irazabal
(Sample)
From Nick Kanaya