#340 1909 15¢

Basic Information

Color: Pale Ultramarine
Subject: George Washington
Watermark: Watermarked double-lined USPS
Printing method: Flat plate
Perforations: 12
Scott #: 340
Quantity issued: 35,000,000
Issued: January 19th, 1909

Value

An unused stamp with perfect gum: $40-$70
An unused stamp with gum and a hinge mark: $6-$12
A used stamp: $2-$3

Usage

#340 on a cover to Türkiye

In 1909, a single 15-cent stamp was primarily used to pay the combined cost of the international foreign letter rate (5-cents per half-ounce) plus a 10-cent registry fee. It was also used to pay for larger fourth-class mail parcels or to cover multiple units of weight on overseas mail.

Common Usages in Detail:

Registered Mail: A single 15¢ stamp perfectly covered the combined postage ($0.05) and registration fee ($0.10) for a standard half-ounce international letter.
Foreign Mail Weights: Before October 1907, the international Universal Postal Union rate was 5-cents per half-ounce. By 1908, the 15-cent stamp remained valuable for prepaying heavier items (up to 1.5 ounces) destined for overseas.
Domestic Parcels: Larger fourth-class packages and merchandise requiring higher postage frequently utilized the 15-cent denomination to meet weight-based costs.

The Plates and a Pane

#340 was issued with the following plate #'s

Imprint and number
4949-52, 54

A pane of 100 #340. There were two panes to a sheet of 200

Proofs

340-P1

Click image to enlarge

Identifying the Watermark on #340

The DOUBLE lined USPS watermark found on #340

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.

The Inspiration for the Design

George Washington bust by Jean-Antoine Houdon

The vignette was based on a bust of George Washington by french sculptor Jean-Antoine Houdon.

Created in 1785 the bust is considered the most accurate likeness of the first U.S. president. Based on a life mask and clay model made at Mount Vernon, it captures Washington at age 53 with precise facial details, blending a Roman, toga-style aesthetic with realistic aging. It is considered one of the most accurate representations of Washington.