#478 - 1916 - Perf. 10 - Unwatermarked
See below for details
Basic Info
$1 violet brown, blackish brown
Printing Method: FLATE PLATE
Subject: Benjamin Franklin
Number issued: 251,000
Perforations: 10
Watermark: Unwatermarked
Scott #: 478
Issued: December 22nd, 1916
Value
Used
$8 - $20
No postmark with gum (MH)
$175 - $325
Full perfect gum, no postmark
no trace of stamp hinge mark (MNH)
$1,700 - $3,000
What the $1 stamp was used for
Most of these were used Parcel Post packages for shipment to Europe, especially Russia and would have been placed on bank tags such as the one shown above, which would be tied to a sack or large parcel, machine parts for the war effort being the major package contents.
Large blocks and multiples are common as the parcels or crates were heavy and required a lot of postage.
Earliest Known Use
Earliest known use of #478, May 24, 1917
A change of color
It was first intended to issue this stamp in "pink", really a dark rose, and the die was approved by the Postmaster-General, Geo. Von L. Myer, on January 6, 1909. In spite of this approval, it was decided that this stamp looked too much like the two cent value and the Department decided to issue the stamp in a violet brown.
Plate Numbers
#478 was issued with the following plate #
Imprint, "A" and number
5782
The Old DC Post Office
The old Post Office, Washington DC
The old Post Office, Washington DC
The 1916 Definitive Issue Perf 10
