#138 1871 7¢ With grill

Basic Information

Color: Vermilion
Subject: Edwin Stanton
Paper: Hard white wove paper
Printing method: line-engraved intaglio on flat plates
Printer: National Bank Note Co
Perforations: 12
Plate #: 33
Grills: H or I grill (see below)
Scott #: 138 (H grill) 138A (I grill)
Quantity issued: 120,000 (estimate)
Issued: February 12, 1871

Value

An unused stamp with perfect gum: H grill - I grill $47,500
An unused stamp with gum and a hinge mark: H grill $1,500-$2,400 I grill $4,000-$4,500
A used stamp: H grill $60-$90 I grill $250-$750

About the large bank note stamps

A National Bank notes from 1870
Click image to enlarge

"Large Bank Note" stamps refers to a major definitive series of postage stamps issued between 1870 and 1890. They are called "Bank Notes" because they were produced under contract by three private security printing firms—the National, Continental, and American Bank Note Companies—before the Bureau of Engraving and Printing took over production in 1894.

Key Characteristics
Size: They are called "Large" to distinguish them from the "Small Bank Notes" (or "Baby Bank Notes") issued from 1890 to 1894, which were reduced in size to cut production costs.
Paper and Grills: Early issues (National) often feature "grills" (embossed patterns intended to prevent reuse), while later issues moved from hard paper (National and Continental) to soft porous paper (American).
Secret Marks: To identify which company printed which stamp, "secret marks" (tiny design modifications) were often added to the original plates when contracts changed hands.

Historical Timeline
National Bank Note Co. (1870–1873): The original printers who introduced the designs.
Continental Bank Note Co. (1873–1879): Took over the contract and added secret marks to the 1¢ through 15¢ denominations.
American Bank Note Co. (1879–1890): After merging with Continental, they printed the same designs on soft porous paper and later introduced re-engraved versions with slightly modified details.

Grills (H, I and J grills)

H Grill 11-13 x 14-16 points 10 x 12mm
I Grill 10-11 x 10-13 points 8½ x 10mm
Click image to enlarge
The grills as they appear on the stamp
Click image to enlarge
It is common to see only a partial grill
Click image to enlarge

The H grill (#138)
The H grill is often confused with the I grill. If a grill measures roughly 10 x 12 mm, it is generally considered an H grill, while smaller ones are I grills. If an identification cannot be firmly made, the default classification is usually the H grill, as it is generally more common than the I grill

The I grill (#138A)
It is small, typically measuring 8½ x 10mm with 10 vertical rows. Examples, such as on the 30-cent stamp, are extremely rare

Usage

#138 used on a cover to Germany

Key Usages of the 7¢ 1871 Stamp:
International Mail: The 7-cent denomination was specifically designed to cover international postage rates during the 1870–1871 period, including those sent to Europe, and is frequently found on foreign mail. It was originally produced to meet the 7¢ rate to Germany. The reason for the delay in issuing this stamp to 1871 is that the Franco-Prussian war stopped all mail shipment. From March to May the rate to Germany was reduced to 6¢. Then until 1875 the rate to Germany was increased to 7¢. The stamp was also used to pay the 7¢ rate to Denmark, Hungary and Luxembourg.
Supplementary Rates: Like other stamps in the series, it was used to meet the specific rates for letters that were over the standard weight or required special services, such as international postage that changed during that time.

Shades of the vermilion 7¢ and the reasons behind them

The color variations in the 7-cent vermilion issue were primarily due to inconsistencies in ink mixing, printing batches, and subsequent oxidation of the inks over time. While officially issued as "vermilion," this specific stamp exists in shades ranging from bright red to orange-red and deeper vermilion hues. In addition printers often produced different batches of ink, resulting in variations between print runs.

The Inspiration for the Design

Edwin Stanton

Edwin M. Stanton (1814–1869), the U.S. Secretary of War under Abraham Lincoln, was frequently photographed by the famous Civil War photographer Mathew Brady during the 1860s. These portraits, often taken at Brady's National Portrait Gallery in Washington, D.C., captured the intense, hardworking image of Stanton that was vital for the Union effort. A Brady photograph was the inspiration for the design of the 7¢ stamp.