1857 1¢ - #20
1c - Blue - Type II
The design is complete at the sides and top
but slightly incomplete at bottom.
Perf. 15 ½ - Scott #20 - 1851
Spring 2003 Fall 2003 Spring 2004 Fall 2004 Spring 2005 Fall 2005 Spring 2006 Fall 2006 Spring 2007 Fall 2007 Spring 2008 Fall 2008 Spring 2009 Fall 2009 Spring 2010 Fall 2010 Spring 2011 Fall 2011 Spring 2012 Fall 2012 Spring 2013 Fall 2013 Spring 2014 What you should look for
Identifying #20
(#20 is a Type II)
#20 can be found on plate's 1 (late), 2, 4, 11 and 12. There is only one instance of a this type II on plate 1 (late), that being position 4R1L. The opposite is true for plate 2 which is all type two except two positions, positions 99R2 (type III and part of the big crack) and 100R2 (type IIIa). Plates 4 and 11 had twenty positions and plate 12 had 101 positions.
Notes on #20
1) It is the earliest stamp to appear on the patriotic cover
2) The big crack (see below) is much less common in than in #7
3) The finest examples of type II can be found from the top row of plate 4. These have a break in the outer line at the bottom.
4) Plate II has numerous double transfers, one of which is inverted (71L IE) and one triple transfer with one of these being inverted (positions 81L IL and 91L IE). Position 7R IE has the most prominent double transfer, followed by 65R IE and then 22R IE.
5) The stamp is uncommon in blocks.
6) For some reason imprint copies are rare on #20.
7) Plates 11 and 12 used new transfer rolls and had a nearly complete design, there was no trimming involved. Margins are tight on these two plates. These two plates also used two three relief transfer roll, rather than the previous six relief transfer roll. Relief T can be found on the top row of plate 11.
8) Plate 11 stamps are scarce, the plate was only in use for six months.
9) Plates 11 and 12 were printed by the American Bank Note company.For a really excellent guide to this issue click here.
How many plates were there?
There were twelve plates of the 1c Franklin made, plate six was never used, probably due to it being damaged in it's creation. Most of the plates were used for both the imperforate and perforated design. Some only produced one type or the other. For instance, plate 12 produced only perforated stamps and the early state of Plate 1 produced only imperforate stamps.
#20 showing the plate number (12) in the margin.
Nathan K. Hall
Postmaster General
1850-52The Inspiration for the Design
Benjamin Franklin
Jean-Jacques Caffieri (1725-1792)
Marble, 25" high
The Peabody Collection, MarylandThe design was based off Jean-Jacques Caffieri's bust of Franklin.
Varieties to look for
THE BIG CRACK
Showing a crack in plate II
Positions 2L, 12L, 13L and 23L
Caused by an integral flaw in the steel plate
Later printings show the crack extending to the fourth
row.THE MOST PRONOUNCED UNITED STATES STAMP
RE-ENTRY
Position 89R2 has, what looks to be like, a re-entry. Although in the strict sense of the word, it is not a re-entry or double transfer. It is more probably an error as the lower part of the (under the words ONE CENT) was made to correct an existing error. See Neinken.DOUBLE TRANSFERS
#20 is replete with double transfers or re-entries, the most obvious being shown above. Another one to look for is position 74R12 from plate II. This has a striking example of a double frame line, seen above the letters U.S. POSTAGE.
The Essay's and Proofs
Vignette of Ben Franklin
Imperf essay on laid india paper
Unlisted 1c Liberty
Black, Vignette Die Essay on Proof paper
frame similar to 5¢ Jefferson
Probably attributable to Toppan, Carpenter, Casilier and Co.
5-E1a
Black, Vignette Die Essay on India
5-E1var
Black, Vignette Die Essay on India
Unlisted showing both Franklin and Washington
5-E1b
Black, Vignette Die Essay on Proof Paper
5-E1f
Black, Vignettes Die Essay on Proof Paper
5-E2
6c Black
Die Essay on India
