#803 1938 Presidential Series (PREXIE) ½¢
See below for details
Basic Info
½¢ deep orange
Subject: Benjamin Franklin
Perforations: 11 x 10½
Number issued: 2,028,847,800
Scott #: 803
Issued: May 19th, 1938
Value
Used
< 5¢
No postmark with gum (MH)
5¢
Full perfect gum, no postmark
no trace of stamp hinge mark (MNH)
10¢ - 15¢
Full perfect gum, no postmark
no trace of stamp hinge mark PLATE BLOCK OF FOUR (MNH)
$1 - $1.25
A full pane
A pane of 100 stamps, there were two panes to a sheet of 200
First Day Cover
A first day cover, dated May 19th, 1938
Notable Sales
Unlisted Gladys Adler hand painted "of the period" cachet. Very scarce and a very early classic hand painted cachet.
It is worth noting that there was no half cent rate at the time, almost all were used in multiples or in combination with other values.
Sold June 2018 for $173
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The Inspiration for the Design
The source photograph, bottom photo, was used for vignette. It is a photo of Benjamin Franklin's statue located in the rotunda of Franklin Institute science museum in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, top photo.
Although this is the Presidential series, Benjamin Franklin was included as it was assumed that, if it was not for his advanced age at the time, he may have been our first president. However he was the first Postmaster General, another reason to include him.
Elaine Rawlinson
Over 1,100 sketches were submitted, many from veteran stamp collectors. Elaine Rawlinson, who had little knowledge of stamps, won the contest and collected the $500 prize. She was the first female stamp designer
Plate #'s
#803 was issued with the following plate #'s
Numbers
not known
Essays
803-E
An entry submitted by a collector for the design competition
803-E
1938 Issues
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