#485 1917 5¢ Error

Basic Information

Color: Carmine ERROR
Subject: George Washington
Watermark: NONE
Printing method: Flat plate
Perforations: Imperforate
Quantity Issued: 50 sheets
Scott #: 485
Issued: 1917

Value for singles

An unused stamp with perfect gum: $9,000-$12,000
An unused stamp with gum and a hinge mark: $8,000-$10,000
A used stamp: -

Value for single with two correct 2¢

Unused with perfect gum: $11,000-$15,000
Unused with gum and a hinge mark: -
Used: -

The story behind the error

There were three error stamps on the plate, one was isolated, the other two were adjacent, as shown above.
Click the image to enlarge

The 5¢ carmine error was caused by a plate technician at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing who accidentally used a 5¢ transfer roll instead of a 2¢ transfer roll while repairing three defective positions on a normal 2¢ red Washington printing plate (Plate #7942).

Key Details of the Mistake

The Confusion: The "5" numeral on the transfer roll closely resembled a reversed "2", leading the overworked technician to make the mistake during the repair process.
The Result: Instead of fixing the plate for the standard 2¢ carmine/red stamp, the technician inadvertently entered three 5¢ stamp designs onto the 2¢ sheet layout.
The Print Run: Because the proof sheet went uninspected, the plate was approved for printing. This meant the resulting sheets printed the 5¢ George Washington design in carmine right in the middle of sheets meant for 2¢ stamps.
Perforation Differences: Most of these sheets were later perforated with 11-gauge machines (yielding #505), but the earlier sheets processed through remaining 10-gauge machinery became the scarce #467 and #485.
Recall: On May 2, 1917, the United States Post Office Department, through the Third Assistant Postmaster General, issued a printed notice advising postmasters of the error and ordering the recall of the error sheets.

The Plates

#485 was issued with the following plate #'s

Number only
7942

Because the errors are positioned away from the plate numbers, it is not possible to have a plate block.

There is no watermark

The unwatermarked back of #482

The Bureau of Engraving and Printing stopped placing watermarks on postage stamps in 1916 to reduce production costs amid wartime economic constraints.

Wartime Costs: World War I created financial pressures and material shortages, making specially manufactured watermarked paper an expensive luxury
Cost vs. Benefit: The government decided that the money saved by switching to standard, unwatermarked paper far outweighed the minimal risk of counterfeiting.
Permanent Change: The Post Office Department issued its first unwatermarked stamp in over twenty years in September 1916, making the discontinuation permanent.

How to confirm there is no watermark

By placing the watermark face down on a dark surface or holding it up to bright light, you might be able to see a watermark. If you cannot see the watermark, and you want further confirmation, consider investing in watermark fluid and a watermark tray. Ronson's lighter fluid works just as well as watermark fluid. Both fluids evaporate quickly.

Pour a little fluid in the tray, and lay the stamp face down. In a few seconds, the stamp will absorb the fluid and reveal any watermark that may be present.

As you will see from the illustration, there is no evidence of a watermark on this stamp.

The inspiration for the design

George Washington bust by Jean-Antoine Houdon
and 5¢ stamp with the correct color blue

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.