Basic Information
Color: Carmine
Subject: George Washington
Watermark: SINGLE-lined USPS
Printing method: Flat plate
Perforations: 12
Scott #: 375
Quantity issued: 8,500,000,000
Issued: November 23rd, 1910
Value
An unused stamp with perfect gum: $3-$4
An unused stamp with gum and a hinge mark: $1-$2
A used stamp: 25¢-75¢
#375a
Booklet Pane (#375a)
Booklet Pane
Value
An unused booklet pane with perfect gum: $60-$140
An unused booklet pane with gum and a hinge mark: $30-$40
A used booklet pane: $75-$100
Plate Positions of the Booklet Pane
#375a 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
#375b
Lake color (#375b)
Lake
Value
An unused stamp with perfect gum: $900-$1,100
An unused stamp with gum and a hinge mark: $600-$800
A used stamp: $250-$300
#375c
Double Impression (#375c)
Double Impression
Value
An unused stamp with perfect gum: -
An unused stamp with gum and a hinge mark: $250-$300
A used stamp: -
Usage
#375 earliest known date of use, December 19th, 1910
#375a earliest known date of use, May 10th, 1911
The 2¢ Washington stamp paid the standard ½ ounce rate.
The Plates
#375 was issued with the following plate #'s
Imprint, 'A' and plate number
5557-75
5660-62, 67-70, 74, 83-90, 93-94, 97-98
5711-17, 97-98
Imprint, star and plate number
5092
5274-76, 80-84, 93, 96-99
5300-03, 05-12, 14, 17-19, 21, 23-25, 27-29, 31-32, 34-35, 37-39, 42-44, 47-49, 51, 53, 58, 62, 69-70, 75
5508-09, 12, 15-18, 28, 42-56, 78, 81, 85, 89-90
5606-12, 16-19, 21, 23-30, 35-36, 42, 45, 48, 50, 52, 54, 55, 71
5795-96
#375a was issued with the following plate #'s
360 subjects
5130
5261-62, 66
5445-46, 48, 50-51, 56, 58-59, 61-62, 64, 66-67, 69, 72
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.
Essays and Proofs
332-Ef
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332-P1
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332-TC1
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332-TC1
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332-TC1
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332-TC1
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332-TC1
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332-TC1
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332-TC1ap
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Identifying the Watermark on #375
The SINGLE lined USPS watermark found on #374
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 Switch from Double to Single Line USPS Watermark
The purpose of this change was to strengthen the paper and to give it a more uniform thickness. The old double line watermark covered too much space and made the lettered area quite a bit thinner than the rest of the paper, which caused variation in the shrinkage of the paper. The new watermark was also smaller, occurring 400 letters to a full sheet instead of 360
Identifying the Watermark on #375a
The SINGLE lined USPS watermark
An illustration of the single line USPS watermark found on this booklet pane (note the regular stamps watermark is upright)
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.