Scotts #636 US stamps

#636 -1927 P11 x 10 ½ - 4¢

4¢ - Pale brown, light brown, brown, deep brown, dark brown, yellowish brown, light reddish brown, reddish brown, deep reddish brown

Printing Method: Rotary Press
Subject: Martha Washington
Number issued: Not known
Perforations: 11 x 10 ½
Watermark: Unwatermarked
Scott #: 636
Issued: May 17th, 1927

Value

Used
10¢
No postmark with gum (MH)
20¢ - 40¢
Full perfect gum, no postmark
no trace of stamp hinge mark (MNH)
75¢ - $2

Plate #'s

#636 was issued with the following plate #'s

Number only
17761
17989-90
18038-39, 82-83
18365

The Design Inspiration

The vignette was based on a drawing by Charles Jalabert who modelled his drawing on the Gilbert Stuart painting. Gilbert Stuart painted Martha Washington when she was about sixty years old. The top image is the Gilbert Stewart painting, the bottom image is an engraving based on the Jalabert drawing.

A Change of Perforation

In 1915 the complaint that the "perforated ten" stamps were difficult to separate caused an experimental issue of two cents stamps with a new type 11 gauge perforation. This having proven satisfactory was soon thereafter used for all flat plate stamps. The use of ten gauge perforation on the rotary press printing, however, was necessary because the method used needed sufficient uncut space to prevent the sheets from tearing apart in the perforating process.

The introduction of rotary press sheet stamps for general use again caused this complaint and it necessitated the development of the bar and wheel type of perforator which made it possible to decrease the amount of uncut space between the stamps and increase the ease with which they could be separated.

In December 1926 the two cent stamps were issued with this new form of perforation as an experiment. Having proved successful other values were issued from the new perforators as soon as the supply at the Bureau became exhausted This value was not in great demand at this time and not issued in the new type of perforation until June 10, 1927.