Date of Issue: July 1st, 1851

Earliest Known Date of Use: August 4th, 1851

Plate Size: Sheets of 200 subjects (2 panes of 100). Only one plate was used, plate #1.

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

Watermark: None

Quantity Issued: 2,500,000

Use: Pairs are very common as this stamp was used to pay the 24c treaty rate to the England. Bisects were accepted for use by the San Francisco postmaster as the 6c paid rate.

A cover showing use of the 24c treaty rate

Multiples greater than a pair

Only one of three covers with a block of four or greater attached

Although pairs are common, blocks of four or more are scarce and command a price premium way in excess of two pairs.

All the twelve cent stamps were printed from just one plate, plate #1.

MARGINS

When trying to obtain four margin copies in the 1851 series it is a lot more difficult on this issue. The margins on this stamp are ony 1mm wide

This multiple demonstrates how
narrow the margins on #17 are

George Washington 1743-1826
painted by Gilbert Stuart 1755-1799
Known as the The Athenaeum it was painted in 1796 by Gilbert Stuart

Perhaps the most famous portrait in the US, probably due to the fact that it's presence graces the front of the $1 bill, this portrait was in fact unfinished at the time of Gilbert's death in 1828. It now hangs in the Boston Museum of Fine Art (Gilbert was one of Boston's more famous sons).

The Albert G. Durand engraving

The 12c portrait of George Washington differs slightly from the 10c portrait as it was based off Durand's engraving and not the original painting. The result was a more clearly defined portrait, this despite the fact that the 10c was designed after the 10c. The 10c portrait is more faithful to the original, keeping more of the 'wood teeth' smile that Gilbert captured so well.

Part-India Paper

Usualy with a Philadelphia CDS
the thin paper variety was made of
india paper, the same as used on the
proof.

PRINTED ON REVERSE

There are a few examples where
the stamp is printed on both sides.
Brookman states there are only four examples.

 

Trial copies came from plate 3, which was never put into producing stamps for postal use.

Although there are numerous recuts (nearly every position had the outer lines recut), double transfers and flaws on #17, they do not command much interest and as such are rarely featured in auctions, nor do the varieties command much of a price premium.

Having said this position 27R1 deserves, in my opinion a special mention as the double transfer is quite pronounced.

 

17 E2
Die Essay

17 P1
Small Die Proof

#17 Specimen Overprint