Basic Information
Color: Green
Subject: Benjamin Franklin
Watermark: Watermarked double-lined USPS
Printing method: Flat plate
Perforations: 12
Scott #: 331
Quantity issued: 5,300,000,000
Issued: December 2nd, 1908
Value
An unused stamp with perfect gum: $6-$8
An unused stamp with gum and a hinge mark: $2-$3
A used stamp: 10¢-25¢
#331a
Booklet Pane (#331a)
Value
An unused booklet pane with perfect gum: $30-$40
An unused booklet pane with gum and a hinge mark: $10-$13
A used booklet pane: $25-$35
Plate Positions of the Booklet Pane
#331a Diagram of a 36O Subject Booklet Plate
Position panes on 360 subject plates
A - Ordinary pane.
B - Pane with half arrow line in margin, guide line at right.
C - Pane with half arrow line in margin, guide line at left.
D - Pane with plate number in margin.
H - Pane with vertical guide line at right.
I - Pane with vertical guide line at left.
J - Pane with horizontal guide line at bottom.
K - Has a vertical guide line at right and line at bottom.
L - Pane with vertical guide line at left and line at bottom.
M - Pane with horizontal guide line at top of margin.
N - Pane with vertical guide line at right and at top of margin.
O - Pane with vertical guide line at left and at top of margin.
Panes A, B, C and D are found on both types of plates and are listed merely to account for the various position panes on each plate.
Panes H and I, of the 180 subject sheets, are the same as H and I of the 360 sheets. They are exactly the same and there is no method of telling them apart.
The 180 subject sheets were used for the booklets of this issue, while the 360 subject sheets were used for this and. all succeeding booklets of ordinary stamps. The above list of positions will, therefore, hold true for all succeeding issues unless otherwise specified
Usage
#331 on a first day cover, dated December 2nd, 1908
The 1¢ Benjamin Franklin stamp was used specifically for:
Postcards: The standard rate for sending a postcard anywhere in the United States. It was the primary use for this stamp.
Third-Class Mail & Printed Matter: Bulk circulars, newspapers, and printed items (priced at 1¢ for every 2 ounces).
Make-up Rate: Combined with other denominations to meet higher or odd postage rates.
The Plates and a pane
#331 was issued with the following plate #'s
Imprint and number
4874-75, 80-82, 85-86, 88-92, 94-95, 97-99
4900-04, 06-15, 60, 62, 66-67, 71-72, 74-75
Imprint, small solid star and number
4980
Imprint, star and plate number
4985-86, 89, 91, 93-95, 97-99
5000-14, 23-24, 76-87, 89, 91, 93, 97-98
5100-01, 03, 11, 18, 24, 37, 52, 53, 59, 62, 66, 69, 79-80, 86-87, 92-93, 98
5206-16, 23, 27, 32, 34, 42, 55, 59, 79 ,87, 94
5301-13, 20, 22, 30, 33, 36, 40, 45, 52, 59, 60, 73, 78, 80, 82-83, 85-87
5401-02, 03, 04, t3, t4, 16, 18, 20, 29, 82, 35, 38, 41, 44, 74, 76, 88, 89
5490-91, 94, 95
#331a was issued with the following plate #'s
180 subjects
4867-69, 70, 77
6029-30, 34-35, 37-38, 40-41
360 subjects
5263-64, 67-68
A pane of #331, there were two panes of 100 to a sheet of 200
The meaning of the star
The star in the inscription
Early in 1909, most of the higher values had new plates made with gutters 3mm wide between the six outer rows on either side but with the remaining eight rows of 2mm spacing, the same as plates of the lower values. These were made to overcome the waste in perforating due to unequal shrinkage of the paper which was greatest at the outside. To guide the perforator in setting the wheels for these plates a star identification mark was added after the imprint, hence the name " Star Plate. " These plates produced blocks of stamps with different vertical spacings and although the 3mm out numbered the 2mm they are more desirable as few seem to have been saved of the 3mm spacing.
Identifying the Watermark on #331
The DOUBLE lined USPS watermark found on #331
The SINGLE 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.
Identifying the Watermark on #331a
The DOUBLE lined USPS watermark
An illustration of the double line USPS watermark found on this booklet pane (note the regular stamps watermark is upright)
The Inspiration for the Design
Benjamin Franklin bust by Jean-Antoine Houdon
The design of the orginal 1869 1¢ stamp with this vignette (#112) was inspired by a sculpture of Benjamin Franklin by Jean-Antoine Houdon, which is currently located in the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts in Philadelphia.
It has been much debated whether Franklin actually sat for Houdon or if the sculptor captured his vividly accurate image from mere passing acquaintance. He would have had ample opportunity to observe the American minister at the Masonic lodge of the Nine Sisters to which they, as well as many other artists and patrons in the expatriate community (e.g., Count Stroganov; see Voltaire and Diderot), belonged. This cleanly truncated version, in modern dress, was clearly preferred by contemporary American statesmen and anticipates George Washington's insistence that Houdon's statue of him.