Earliest Known Date of Use: March 24th, 1856

Plate Size: Sheets of 200 subjects (2 panes of 100).

Printer: Toppan, Carpenter, Casilier & Co. using the die-to-relief-to-plate transfer process.

Watermark: None

Quantity Issued: 150,000

Use: Not issued until 1856 when the postal rate for a registered ½ oz letter abroad was 5c. This was the "ship to shore" rate and was supposed to be paid by cash, however the use of stamp was common. As a result one wonders why the 5c stamp was ever issued, there being no obvious need for it.

A large portion of #12's on cover (of which only 350 exist) were addressed to Europe. Non-European destinations command a premium. Because most of the stamps were used in New Orleans it can be expected, due to New Orleans french heritage, that a large portion of the covers are addressed to France, so it follows that when the cover is addressed to European countries other than France, there is a slight premium.

The stamp was unevenly distributed to post offices, being issued just before the perforated variety in 1857. The overwhelming majority of the stock being sent to New Orleans, with a small amount being sent to Boston. Any postmark not showing these cities also commands a premium, as long as the postmark is legible. Grid postmarks also command a premium. Any domestic use of the 5c commands a premium as well. Because multiples of three were commonly used to pay the higher 15c foreign destination rate, they do not command as higher premium as one would expect.

Identifying #12

#12 was printed on one plate only, plate one.

Without doubt, position 100L1

With only 150,000 stamps printed it is scarce and valuable, which makes it an excellent target, when the common #29 or #30A can have its perforations clipped to look like #12.

#12 has projections on the design
on ALL four sides.

Sometimes a cut-down #30A is presented as a #12. It is easy to distinguish #30A, because #30A has the characteristics of a type II design. Type II designs have their top or bottom projections partialy cut away, #12 are complete. The forger will completely remove the top an bottom projections so that this distinguishable difference between the two will not be noticed. Ergo, do not purchase #12 when the FULL top or bottom projection is not visible. It is OK to have only one of the top or bottom projections complete, but not both missing.

It is not as easy to distinguish this stamp from the cut down #29. This is because #29 is also a type I and the only difference between #12 and #29 is in the color, #12 was printed in red-brown and #29 in brown.

The difference between the two colors can be subtle, therefore #12 requires a certificate before selling.

Most used copies of #12 have the New Orleans cancel, occassionaly others cancels such as Hartford, CN are found. There is a premium for non New Orleans cancels.

 

Thomas Jefferson 1743-1826
painted by Rembrandt Peale 1778-1860
Painted in 1800 when Jefferson was 57
Located at the White House

Rembrandt Peale (1778-1860)
Painted Washington, Calhoun and Thomas Jefferson
Tended towards the dark and stylized characteristics of
15th and 16th century paintings

THE WHITE CLOUD

Position 23R1 showing the white cloud in the right of the vignette, this was due to a defective transfer.

 

Unlike all the 1c abd 3c issues of the 1851-56 series, the 5c has few examples of an essay.

11-e3b
Die on India
Black and Red Brown
Die sunk on card
Gavit & Co

11-E3e
The complete set of four colors of the 1851 Essay
Produced in 1847
On glazed card


#12TC1
Trial Color Proofs

12 P
Type I Die Proof

#12P2a
Panama Pacific Proof