#181 1875 5¢ Special Printing

Basic Information

Color: Bright Blue
Subject: Zachary Taylor
Paper: Hard white wove paper, without gum
Printing method: line-engraved intaglio on flat plates
Printer: Continental Bank Note Co.
Perforations: 12
Scott #: 181
Number sold: 317 (10 survivors)
Issued: January 1st, 1875

Value

An unused stamp without gum: $450,000

About the Special Printings

A poster for the 1876 International Exhibition
Click image to enlarge

The 1875 Special Printings

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 80% of the large banknote special printings have at least one side that has been cut with scissors.

The Inspiration for the Design

Mathew Brady’s photograph of Zachary Taylor

The central image features Zachary Taylor, the 12th U.S. President. The portrait was engraved by the Continental Bank Note Company, which held the federal printing contract at the time.

Portrait Source: The design for the 5¢ Zachary Taylor stamp was inspired by a photograph taken by Mathew Brady, which was likely based on a daguerreotype portrait.
Design Context: The stamp was produced as part of the "Bank Note" series to meet new international postal rates mandated by the Universal Postal Union, which went into effect on July 1, 1875.