#370 - 1909 2ยข Alaska Yukon Issue P12
See below for details
Basic Info
2¢ - Carmine, bright carmine
Printing Method: FLAT PLATE
Subject: William H. Seward
Number issued: 150,000,000
Perforations: p12
Watermark: Double line USPS
Scott #:370
Issued: May 26, 1909
Value
Used
50¢ - $2
No postmark with gum (MH)
$3 - $4
Full perfect gum, no postmark
no trace of stamp hinge mark (MNH)
$5 - $12
Updated Oct 2024
Notable Sales
The original and unique hand painted essay for #370
Sold June 2021 for €1,238
Explore Auktionshaus Christoph Gärtner
A full pane
A pane of 70 of #370, there are four panes to a sheet of 280
#370 Plate #'s
#370 was issued with the following plate #'s
5142-45, 70-73
5208-11, 35-37, 41, 49-51, 57
A promotional tool
As it seemed to the organisers of the Alack-Yukon exposition, every previous expositions of note had seen a series of stamps to promote them. Thus they lobbied the Post Office Department and Congress to have a series of stamps dedicated to the Exposition. Their pleas fell on deaf ears and at the last moment the Post Office Department relented, however it would not be a series such as the Columbian Expo The post office would issue just one stamp, a 2¢ stamp
The design inspiration
The design vignette is from an engraving by Richie Alexander, based on a contemporary photograph of William H Seward whilst Secretary of State
A rare varnish ink version of #370
First Day Cover
A first day cover of #370, May 26th, 1909
First day of the Alaska-Yukon Exposition
Essays and Proofs
370-E1var
Unadopted design for a seal stamp
370-E1var
370-E1
Photographic design on India
370-E1
370-E2
Photographic design on India
370-E2
370-E3
Photographic design on India
Essay on India with head alternative.
The seal design was rejected by the organisers of the Exhibition as it gave the impression that Alaska and Yukon was a year round land of snow and ice. Thus it would put off summer tourists
370-E3
370-E4
Photographic design on India, showing Seward's head
370-E4
370-E5
Photographic design on India
370-E5
370-P1
Proof on India die sunk on card
370-P1
370-P2
Proof on card
370-P2
The Alaska Yukon Exposition of 1909
Held in Seattle in 1909 was held to publicize the Pacific North West and was generally a success due to it's heavy promotion by both the organizers and railway companies. After the Exposition ended the buildings became the University of Washingon Campus. Two of the original buildings survive and are now the Architecture Hall and the Cunningham Hall.
Looking down the Court of Honor at the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition toward Mount Rainier
The manufactures building under construction
A card advertising the 'Pay Streak' attraction at the Exposition.
The Pay Streak featured games of chance with cash prizes, it
was added after the success of a similar attraction at the Chicago Fair.
THE TEMPLE OF TIMBER (The Forestry Buiding)
Billed as the worlds largest log cabin the structure survived the Exposition.
Unfortunately it was demolished in 1930 as the logs were difficult to maintain
and no alternative use for the building could be found by the buildings new owners, the Univ. of Washington.
1909 Commemoratives
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