#270 1895 5¢ Watermarked

Basic Information

Color: Chocolate
Subject: Ulysses S. Grant
Watermark: Watermarked double-lined USPS
Paper: Soft porous paper
Printing method: line-engraved intaglio on flat plates
Printer: Bureau of Engraving and Printing
Perforations: 12
Scott #: 270
Quantity issued: 123,775,455
Issued: June 11th, 1895

Value

An unused stamp with perfect gum: $24-$35
An unused stamp with gum and a hinge mark: $8-$21
A used stamp: 75¢-$2

About the First Bureau stamps

#270 with a UPU overprint
Click the image to enlarge

The 1894 Series, known as the "First Bureau Issue," marked the first time the U.S. government printed its own postage stamps, ending the 47-year monopoly of private contractors. Produced by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP), this series used existing designs but introduced small, unique "triangles" in the corners of the stamps to distinguish them from earlier American Bank Note Company issues.

The BEP, which had been established in 1862, successfully bid for the contract to print postage stamps, overcoming intense opposition from private firms that claimed the government was incapable of the work. The BEP reused the 1890–1893 stamp dies. The most defining feature of this series is the addition of small triangles in the upper corners of the designs.

The Bureau of Engraving and Printing introduced the watermarked paper—which featured the letters "USPS" (United States Postage Stamp) in double-lined letters—shortly after discovering counterfeits of the 2-cent stamp. The counterfeits were lithographed and as such were easily identified, however the appearance of counterfeits must have spooked the Bureau.

Usage

#270 on a cover from Shanghai

The 5¢ Grant stamp was primarily used to meet the 5-cent U.S. postage rate for letters to foreign countries within the Universal Postal Union (UPU). It was a staple of late 19th-century US international postage

Plates

#270 was issued with the following plate #'s

200 subject plates
460-463, 530-533, 790-793
1100-1103, 1332-1335

Identifying the Watermark

The double lined USPS watermark

Between 1895 and 1916 the U.S. government used two different watermarks, double line and single line with the letters "USPS".

By placing the watermark face down on a dark surface or holding it up to bright light you might be able to see the watermark. If you cannot see the watermark it might be a good idea to invest in watermark fluid and a watermark tray. Ronsons lighter fluid works just as well as watermark fluid. Both fluids evaporate quickly.

Pour a little fluid in the tray, lay the stamp face down. In a few seconds the stamp will absorb the fluid and reveal the watermark to you.

As you will see from the illustrations the letters can span several stamps, so on the watermark, for instance, you can see only part of the letter S in one corner and only part the letter P in the other corner.

The Inspiration for the Design

1873 photograph of Ulysses S. Grant by C.M. Bell

The vignette design was taken from this 1873 photograph of Ulysses S. Grant by C.M. Bell. Grant was the second Union general to be featured on a stamp, the first being Winfield Scott.