United States
Franklin, Benjamin
Scott 19 · General Issues
About this stamp
The “Franklin, Benjamin” stamp was issued by United States in 1857. This 1c blue stamp belongs to the “1857-61” series and is listed under General Issues as Scott 19. It has a perforation measurement of 151⁄2.
It was printed using Engraving. Its physical characteristics include Unwatermarked watermark and Water-activated gum. It was printed by TC&C. The recorded issue location is Washington, DC. Approximately Unknown Amount Printed copies were produced.
Catalogue recordStamp details
- Country/Territory
- United States
- Standard country
- United States
- Entity type
- Country
- Country issuing years
- 1857-
- Category
- General Issues
- Scott number
- 19
- Description
- Franklin, Benjamin
- Series
- 1857-61
- Year issued
- 1857
- Issue location
- Washington, DC
- Denomination
- 1c
- Colour
- Blue
- Perforation
- 151⁄2
- Watermark
- Unwatermarked
- Printing method
- Engraving
- Printer
- TC&C
- Gum
- Water-activated
- Stamp type
- Definitive
- Number produced
- Unknown Amount Printed
- NH percentage
- 75
- Comments
- Design: Features Benjamin Franklin, based on a bust by Giuseppe Ceracchi. This was the first 1-cent stamp issued with perforations.
Significance: Part of the 1857-61 issue. The introduction of perforations marked a significant step forward in stamp production, making separation much easier.
Rarity: Less common than the Scott #18, especially in very fine condition.
Varieties: Exists with different shades of blue, ranging from pale blue to deep blue. "Double transfers" are a sought-after variety, where the design is accidentally printed twice. Also, look for the "Type Ia" variety, distinguished by a shorter top ornament compared to the "Type I"
Cancellations: A wide range of cancellations were used, including grids, targets, and "fancy" cancels. "Town cancels" from smaller post offices are of particular interest to some collectors.
Condition: Look for stamps with vibrant color, well-centered designs, and no tears or thin spots. Check for "short perfs" (perforations that are cut into the design).
Additional Notes:
It is often found with a slightly blurry impression due to the printing methods used at the time.
The #19 is a key stamp in understanding the development of US stamp production.
The narrow spacing between design elements on the plate often resulted in perforations cutting into the design, making well-centered examples more difficult to find.
Same seriesMore from 1857-61
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