#320 - 1906 Washington Shield Issue Imperf
See below for details
Basic Info
2¢
Red, carmine, scarlet, carmine lake, deep carmine lake, lake, deep lake red
TYPE I
Printing Method: FLAT PLATE
Subject: George Washington
Number issued: Not known
Perforations: Imperforate
Watermark: Double Line USPS
Scott #: 320
Issued: October 2nd, 1906
Value of #320 singles
Used
$3 - $7
No postmark with gum (MH)
$8 - $15
Full perfect gum, no postmark
no trace of stamp hinge mark (MNH)
$22.50 - $75
Private perforation stamps (see below) command higher prices
Value of #320 pairs
Used
$9 - $18
No postmark with gum (MH)
$25 - $35
Full perfect gum, no postmark
no trace of stamp hinge mark (MNH)
$35 - $45
Private perforation stamps (see below) command higher prices
The Inspiration for the Design
For the vignette was based on this BEP engraving not the standerd Treasury engraving of George Washington, taken after the Gilbert Stuart painting. The stamp vignette portrays a rather puffy faced George who looks like he is has put a few pounds on. It was much critiqued by the public at the time, it was said that if it had not printed the word 'Washington' on the stamp it would be anyones guess who the subject was.
It has been rumoured that the unnecessary bits of star behind the T of UNITED and A of STATES was to cover up damage to the die.
Earliest Date of Use
The earliest known date of use of #320 is October 26, 1906
Type I vs Type II
#320a (Type II)
Value of #320a singles
Used
$5 - $15
No postmark with gum (MH)
$32.50 - $45
Full perfect gum, no postmark
no trace of stamp hinge mark (MNH)
$50 - $75
Value of #320a pairs
Used
$9 - $18
No postmark with gum (MH)
$45 - $80
Full perfect gum, no postmark
no trace of stamp hinge mark (MNH)
$100 - $200
A Full Pane
A full pane of 100, there were four panes to a sheet of 400
Private Perforations
Schermack Perforations
U.S. Automatic Vending Company Perforations
Mailometer Perforations
Brinkerhoff Perforations
International Vending Machine Company Perforations
The Minerva Essay
Essay on Hard White Wove Paper, TD29
TD29
Large die trial color proof on India, die sunk on card. Measuring approximately 118x132mm. TD28TC
TD28TC
Essay on India Paper, die sunk on card TD28TC
TD28TC
Printed directly on die sunk glazed card measuring 123x140mm, TD28TC
TD28TC
The Minerva proofs were printed to evaluate the Harris Automatic Press Co. offset press
Harris Offset Press Model SL4, 1906
Harris Offset Press Model SL4, 101, 1906
The Harris Offset Press
The Harris Automatic Press Company, of Dayton, Ohio was the maker of several successful fast, automatic rotary presses, both letterpress and lithographic. Their first offset press, a development of their type press S4, was among several offset presses produced in quick response to Ira Rubel’s press of 1903. The 1906 Serial no. 101 was the first production model of the new line.
The Harris S4L was sold for $4,000, and printed about 3,000 22 x 30 inch sheets per hour. Harris presses were soon the most popular offset presses in the United States.
1903-08 Definitive Issue Coils
