#36 1857 12¢ - Plate 1

Basic Information

Colors: Black, gray black, intense black
Subject: George Washington
Plate: 1
Printing Method: die-to-relief-to-plate intaglio engraving process
Printer: Toppan, Carpenter, Casilear & Co.
Perforations: 15½
Watermark: none
Scott #: 36
Quantity Issued: 5,800,000 (estimated)
Issued: July 30th, 1857

Value

An unused stamp with perfect gum: $15,500-$17,000
An unused stamp with a hinge mark: $150-$450
A used stamp: $30-$65

Usage

#36 on cover paying the 24¢ treaty rate to Great Britain

Usage
The 1857 12¢ was primarily used to pay for heavier domestic mail, multiple rates, or international postage. It was commonly used for mail to Canada or, in combinations, to cover the 24¢ or 30¢ rates to Europe during the period just before the U.S. Civil War

Domestic Mail: It paid the 12-cent rate for a domestic letter weighing between 1.5 and 2 ounces (four times the standard 3-cent half-ounce rate). Pairs or strips were often used to cover even higher registration fees or heavy package rates

International Mail:: It was frequently used for mail traveling to Great Britain and other European destinations. The rate for most European countries was 27¢ so you would frequently see a strip of two 12¢, supplemented by a 1¢ stamp. For Russian the rate was 37¢ and which usually had a strip of three with the additional 1¢ stamp. For England the treaty rate was 24¢ and therefore you will commonly see two individual 12¢ or a pair of the 12¢ stamps on cover.

The bisect

Diagonal bisect (#36a) on cover from Edwardsville to nearby New Orleans paying double the 3¢ rate

There are only three bisects of the 1857 12¢ known to exist. One diagonally cut, shown above and two horizontally cut.

While often accepted by local postmasters when supplies were low, these "provisional" or "unofficial" bisects were technically against official U.S. postal regulations. By the 1870s, the practice was strictly banned in the U.S.

Because bisects are easy to fake (anyone can cut a used stamp), they are generally only considered authentic and valuable by collectors if they are still attached to the original envelope ("on cover") with a postmark that ties the cut edge to the paper.

Three days in Louisville (A story)

At the start of the civil war Federal authorities calculated that there were $260,000 (todays value = $8.2M) of stamps in possession of the Confederate states. To prevent these from being used as contraband by Confederate postmasters the design of the 1857 issue, printed by Toppan & Carpenter, was replaced by the new designs of the 1861 issue printed by the National Bank Company. Furthermore mail originating in Confederate states was not accepted or able to transit Union territory. The National Bank Note company stamps were not issued to the Confederacy.

On August 22nd 1861 the Toppan & Carpenter stamps were demonitized, they were no longer valid for postage. Look at the cover on the right, dated August 22nd you will see that Boston PO added a 'Due 3 cents' on the envelope as the old 3¢ stamp on the envelope had been demonitized. Now look at the cover on the left, envelopes from the Confederacy were accepted for transit through to the Union for three days only, from August 22nd to August 25th. And this cover got through to New York for transatlantic transit without penalty, The envelopes were carried across Union lines at Louisville, KY, by Adams Express Company and the American Letter Express Company, the latter's cancel can be seen on the cover on the right.

Notable stamps

Horizontal pair, imperforate between, (#36c)
Double Transfer

36c
There are only three known examples of #36c, the horizontal pair with imperf inbetween.

All three pairs come from positions in columns 3 and 4 of the left pane and are believed to originated from the same sheet.

Double Transfer
The double transfer can be most clearly seen in the letters "TWELVE”. Position 63L1

A Full pane

A pane of 100 of #36B. There were two panes to a sheet of 200

The inspiration for the design

The inspiration for the US Scott #13 10¢ stamp, issued in 1855, was based on a portrait of Geroge Washington by Gilbert Stuart.

The frame and lettering were engraved by Henry Earle. Earle is credited with engraving the lettering and frames for the 1851–1861 Issue of U.S. stamps. This includes well-known denominations like the 1c, 3c, and 10c stamps of that era, but not the 5¢ Jefferson

The 10-cent stamp is noted for being more faithful to the original Stuart painting than the 12-cent version, specifically in retaining more of the portrait's details.

Four different 12¢ and how to identify them