Scotts #246 US stamps

#246 - 1894 Unwatermarked Ultramarine 1¢

1¢
Bright ultramarine, bright ultramarine or dark ultramarine
Triangles in Corner

Subject: Benjamin Franklin
Number issued: 67,000,000
Perforations: 12
Watermark: Unwatermarked
Scott #: 246
Issued: October 5th, 1894

Value

Used
25¢
No postmark with gum (MH)
$6 -$9
Full perfect gum, no postmark
no trace of stamp hinge mark (MNH)
$12 - $22

A full Pane

A full pane of 100 of #246, there were four panes to a sheet

Color Variations

As this was the Bureau of Printing's first attempt at printing there is quite a bit of color variation. The stamp is almost instantly recognizable by its color, a color that would not take well on Washington DC's humid days. A perfect example of the ink not taking well is seen above, a common problem. To fix this the color was changed from the Ultramarine to a more easily handled blue of Scotts #247.

Triangles in the corner

As this was the Bureau of Printing and Engraving contract a small triangle was cut into the design at top left and top right in order to distinguish this printing from the earlier 1890 series

A "Putty faced Franklin"

Previous versions of Franklins portrait on the 1¢ stamp had Franklin facing to the right. This, along with the pale blue color were the principle reasons that this design was disliked by the general public. The NY Times said that Franklin facing to the left 'entirely altered his expression and making him resemble a putty-faced personification of senility'.