#689 2ยข Van Steuben
See below for details
Basic Info
2¢ - Carmine rose, bright carmine rose, deep carmine rose
Printing Method: Flat Plate
Subject: General Von Steuben
Number issued: 66,487,000
Issued: September 17th, 1930
Value
Used
25¢
No postmark with gum (MH)
25¢ - 50¢
Full perfect gum, no postmark
no trace of stamp hinge mark (MNH)
50¢ - $1
First Day Cover
A first day cover of #689, dated September 17th, 1930
Plate #'s
#689 was issued with the following plate #'s
Number only
20267-70
20281-84
A full pane
A full pane of 100 of #689, there are four panes of 100 to a sheet of 400
The Story Behind the Stamp
Von Steuben commanded a division at Battle of Yorktown and was military planner to Washington following the end of the War. Baron von Steuben served under Washington at Valley Forge. He was inspector general of Continental Army, trained troops & wrote the drill manual adopted by the Continental Army.
The stamp was originally scheduled to be issued on November 15th, 1930, which was believed would be the 200th anniversary of Van Steuben's birth, but shortly before the issue date is was discovered that Van Steuben was born on September 17th, 1730 so the issue date was brought forward to September 17th, 1930.
The design inspiration
The Steuben Society of New York had submitted a design for the vignette which was acceptable to the Department. This consisted of a medallion portrait made by the sculptor Karl Dantert, which had been made for a memorial tablet for the town of Magdeburg, Prussia, Yon Steuben's birthplace. As you can see from the contemporary illustration above, it was a flattering profile on the medallion.
#689a
#689a
Imperforate
Value MH: $1,200
1930 Issues
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