Mo. Rev. Stat. § 273.090
The secretary of state shall annually procure such number of metallic plates as may be required, of convenient size and shape, or design to be changed each year, and having cast thereon in raised letters, "S.L.T." and the figures indicating the year for which the tax has been paid; and he shall also cause to be prepared printed blanks bound in book form, and arranged in such manner that one certificate can be cut off and a stub or duplicate thereof left in the book; and the secretary of state, on or before the first day of July in each year, or as soon thereafter as may be possible, shall deliver to the clerk of each county in the state the metallic plates and also an equal number of blank certificates with stubs or duplicates, signed by the secretary of state, and each such clerk shall remit to the division of taxation and collection of the department of revenue out of the funds collected the cost of such license tags, record books, and the expense of transmitting the same as shall be certified to such clerk by the secretary of state.
§ 273.090, RSMo
RSMo 1939 § 14553, A. 1949 S.B. 1097