PORCELAIN PLATES.NET
A Website for Porcelain License Plate Collectors & Enthusiasts
Mississippi Archive
TOTAL KNOWN PORCELAIN VARIETIES: 3

I: PRE-STATES / CITY & COUNTY PLATES

Most vehicle owners in Mississippi made simple metal, wood, or leather plates
prior to the first state issue in 1912, or perhaps simply painted the number on the
back of the automobile as so many owners did in various states.  However, at
least two owners apparently commissioned a much more elaborate plate to be
made, as two examples of a dated 1911 porcelain plate are known.  The first was
discovered at a garage sale in 1985, while the second surfaced in 2006.  Some
question whether or not these plates might actually be examples of the first state
issue, but until statutory evidence of this is found, most will continue to believe
that they fall in the prestate era.












As for city plates, the only known examples from the state of Mississippi are an
undated plate from the city of Vicksburg, marked only with a “V” prefix, and a
similar "J" prefixed porcelain.  

JACKSON?

In 2020, this odd plate was dug up in Mississippi.  It is nearly identical to the
known Vicksburg porcelains, except that it has a "J" prefix instead.  One can
perhaps speculate that this plate is from the city of Jackson, but we do not have
any corroborating evidence to support this.  For now, it remains unknown.









VICKSBURG

These were dug up by a bottle digger in Vicksburg in 2000.  Based on the refuse
accompanying the site where the plates were dug up, it is presumed that the
plates date from 1909 or 1910.  One interesting aspect of the Vicksburg plates is
that the size varies depending on the number of characters in the registration
number.  This is a frequent occurrence in state-issued plates, but an extreme
rarity in city or county issued porcelains.  The only other city I'm aware of that
offered plates of varying sizes was Louisville, Kentucky in 1910-11.













II: STATE-ISSUED PASSENGER PLATES

None issued.

III: STATE-ISSUED NON-PASSENGER PLATES

None issued.

FURTHER READING

Len Harris, “Victory in Vicksburg: Mississippi’s First Pre-State Discovery.”  ALPCA
Register, 50, 5 (October, 2004), pp. 24-25.

Greg Tomes, “1911 and 1914 Mississippi State Issues?: Old Stories and New
Theories.” ALPCA Register, 50, 5 (October, 2004), pp. 25, 28.
1911
Passenger
White/Black
6" x 10"
Undated
Passenger
White/Blue
Variable*
* 2 digit plates measure 5" x 9 1/2"; 3 digit plates measure 5" x 12"
Undated
Passenger
White/Blue
Unknown