It was intended to print the Trans-Mississippi issue with a black vignette and a frame in color. The bi-color idea had to be abandoned because of the fact that the Spanish American War, which broke out in April, 1898, necessitated the printing of enormous quantities of revenue stamps and the facilities of the Bureau were taxed to the utmost . The time and manpower needed for the printing of stamps in two colors could not be spared and it was necessary for the Bureau to abandon the proposed bi-color stamps in favor of stamps of single colors.

For the vignette was based on an Oklahoma painting by Augustus Goodyear Heaton. The original was destroyed in a 1931 fire.

The Oregon Trail was the primary route to the west. One in ten did not survive the journey and another one in ten turned back. Disease being the number one cause of death. Swollen rivers, death by shotgun (accidental shootings, not shooting at Native Americans), starvation, and extreme weather added to the dangers. The one danger they did not need to worry about was attacks by Native Americans, these were infrequent.

Rough terrain and crossing rivers were the most dangerous parts of the journey.