#108 1875 15¢ Re-Issue

Basic Information

Color: Black
Subject: Abraham Lincoln
Printing method: line-engraved intaglio on flat plates
Printer: The National Bank Note Company
Perforations: 12
Watermark: none
Plate: not known
Scott #: 108
Quantity issued: 10,000 (397 sold)
Issued: 1875

Value

An unused stamp with perfect gum: -
An unused stamp with gum and a hinge mark: $2,000-$3,250
A used stamp: $18,000

Identification

There is not much of a difference between #77 and #108. #108 is on whiter paper and the printing is crisper.

About the Reprints

A poster for the 1876 International Exhibition
Click image to enlarge

The 1875 Reprints

In 1876 the United States celebrated 100 years of nationhood. A huge International Exhibition in Philadelphia, parades and events around the country were held as part of the celebrations. For it's part the Post Office re-issued all the stamps that had been issued up to 1875. They did not sell well and most of the production had to be destroyed. With the exception of the 1847 stamps they were valid for postage so used examples can be found.

These have been called the “special printings" of 1875. All the original plates were used bar US #1 and #2. The 1847 plates had to be reproduced as the originals were lost to history.

All the printings were on harder whiter paper than the originals and most had a shade difference from the originals.

The Inspiration for the Design

The first photograph of Lincoln with a full beard. Taken by C.S. German, probably taken on January 13th, 1861

Engraved oval bust vignette by H. B. Hall's Sons of Abraham Lincoln

The Portrait
The design of the #77 was directly inspired by the national mourning following his assassination in April 1865. It is widely recognized as the first US mourning stamp, issued to honor the martyred president.

The 15-cent denomination was also chosen to coincide with the standard foreign mail rate, often used for international letters to Europe, which helped spread the image of the martyred president internationally

The Political Motivation
The choice of Andrew Jackson was highly symbolic during the Civil War. Jackson was a transformative figure in the Democratic Party who was also a staunch Unionist, and placing his likeness on a stamp was intended to send a strong pro-Union message to the Confederate States of America.

However Jackson's popularity extended to the south, the Confederacy also utilized the same image by Dodge for their own 2¢ stamp (CSA #8).