Scotts #247 US stamps

#247 - 1894 Unwatermarked Dark Blue 1¢

1¢
Dark blue, blue or bright blue
Triangles in Corner

Subject: Benjamin Franklin
Number issued: 67,000,000
Perforations: 12
Watermark: Unwatermarked
Scott #: 247
Issued: October 5th, 1894

Value

Used
25¢
No postmark with gum (MH)
$6 - $10
Full perfect gum, no postmark
no trace of stamp hinge mark (MNH)
$16 - $40

A Color Change

The ultramarine ink used on #246 proved unsatisfactory, although it would have worked well in New York, it did not like the humidity that Washington D.C. residents endure every summer. Consequently after a short run of only 67 million stamps the Ultramarine was changed to a more stable, seen in this issue. So successfull was it that 340 million were issued in this color.

Plate #'s

#247 was issued with the following plate #'s

18, 21, 24, 27, 29 , 31, 33, 35, 98, 99, 101, 102, 119, 120, 121, 122

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'.

Essay's and Proofs

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247 E1

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247-E2b

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247-E2b

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247-E2b

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247-E2a

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247-E2b

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247-E2b

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247-E3

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247-E4

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247-E4

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247-E5

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247-E6

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247 E7

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247-E8

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247-E8

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247-E8

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247-E8

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247-P1

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247-P2a

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247-P4

Working at the Bureau in 1890's

We are fortunate that in the early 1890's, the Bureau photographed the process of printing a stamp. The 1890 series was the last contract for the American Banknote company, thereafter the Bureau of Engraving and Printing printed stamps. The building these photographs were taken was replaced by a new building in 1918.

Preparing the Ink

To make the printing ink, the base color was mixed with oil then the mixture was ground under heavy steel rollers. The machinery was belt driven by steam. Inks then was tested to see if it was the correct color. Some of the inks contained quite a few impurities which wore down the printing plates. Black was the least impure ink, blues and greens the most impure inks.

Preparing the Gum

Down in the basement with the window open for ventilation this poor guy mixed ingredients to make the water soluble gum. Gumming took place after printing and before perforation, usually because the paper had to be damp for printing to work well. The production of gum was in fact an art. The gum could not be too acidic as it would destroy the paper over time. It has to be the right viscosity for application. The gum should also be stable, not yellow or crack.

Preparing the Paper

This is a photo of workers in the postage stamp gumming and drying room in the Stamp Division at the Bureau of Engraving & Printing. Again power is supplied by steam driven belts.