#447 1914 5¢ P10 Coil

Basic Information

Color: Blue
Subject: George Washington
Watermark: SINGLE-lined USPS
Printing method: Flat plate
Perforations: 10 vertical
Scott #: 447
Quantity issued: 1,208,187,883
Issued: July 30th, 1914

Value for singles

An unused stamp with perfect gum: $25-$50
An unused stamp with gum and a hinge mark: $7.50-$15
A used stamp: $$7.50-$17.50

Value for pairs

An unused pair with perfect gum: $50-$100
An unused pair with gum and a hinge mark: $25-$50
A used pair: $25-$50

Usage

The earliest documented usage of #447, May 9th, 1916

In 1914, the 5¢ stamp was used primarily to pay the Universal Postal Union (UPU) international letter rate for mail sent to foreign countries. It could also be combined with other denominations for heavier foreign letters or multiple-rate.

Changing from 12 to 10 perforations

Bureau of Engraving, Washington DC
Examining a proof

The change from perforation 12 to perforation 10 during 1914 was driven by widespread public and postal worker complaints that the old gauge 12 perforations were too close together and brittle, causing stamp sheets to tear and fall apart too easily during routine handling.

Background and Evolution
Perforation 12 Issues: Introduced around 1908, the 12-gauge holes weakened the paper (especially where watermarks intersected), leading to premature separation.
Coil and Machine Experiments: Earlier adjustments to an 8½ gauge for mechanized coil dispensers proved too tough to tear, forcing a compromise.
The Shift to Gauge 10: The Bureau of Engraving and Printing transitioned sheet and coil formats to a coarser 10-gauge perforation in 1914 to create a sturdier separation standard.
Public Reaction: The new gauge 10 sheet stamps proved too coarse for many users, resulting in tearing rather than clean separation, which soon prompted a further adjustment to gauge 11 for sheets.

Paste-up Pairs

A paste up pair

In making this coil the ordinary 400 subject sheets were perforated in the horizontal spaces and then cut into 200 subject sheets along the vertical guide lines. These part perforated sheets were pasted together side by side and fed into a coiling machine which cut the sheets into strips and reeled them on cardboard cylinders in units of 500 and 1,000 stamps. The strips of 20 had a "paste up" at each end where joined and a section of the vertical guide line showed between each tenth and eleventh stamp. One row of each ten had a plate number covered by the "paste up."

The Plates

The plate numbers on the top and bottom were cut off and those on the sides were covered by the paste up. Normally the plate number would be covered by the pasted end of the next strip, however in a few instances the plate number is still visible.

#447 was issued with the following plate #'s

Number only
6733-34, 6736, 6739

Identifying the Watermark on #447

The SINGLE lined USPS watermark of #447

Between 1895 and 1916 the U.S. government used two different watermarks, double line and single line with the letters "USPS".

By placing the watermark face down on a dark surface or holding it up to bright light you might be able to see the watermark. If you cannot see the watermark it might be a good idea to invest in watermark fluid and a watermark tray. Ronsons lighter fluid works just as well as watermark fluid. Both fluids evaporate quickly.

Pour a little fluid in the tray, lay the stamp face down. In a few seconds the stamp will absorb the fluid and reveal the watermark to you.

As you will see from the illustrations the letters can span several stamps, so on the watermark, for instance, you can see only part of the letter S in one corner and only part the letter P in the other corner.

The Inspiration for the Design

George Washington bust by Jean-Antoine Houdon

The vignette was based on a bust of George Washington by french sculptor Jean-Antoine Houdon.

Created in 1785 the bust is considered the most accurate likeness of the first U.S. president. Based on a life mask and clay model made at Mount Vernon, it captures Washington at age 53 with precise facial details, blending a Roman, toga-style aesthetic with realistic aging. It is considered one of the most accurate representations of Washington.