#39 1860 90¢

Basic Information

Color: Blue
Plate: 1
Subject: George Washington
Printing Method: die-to-relief-to-plate intaglio engraving process
Printer: Toppan, Carpenter, Casilear & Co.
Perforations: 15½
Watermark: none
Scott #: 39
Quantity Issued: 29,000
Issued: September 11th, 1860

Value

An unused stamp with perfect gum: $9,000
An unused stamp with gum and a hinge mark: $1,500-$2,200
A used stamp: $250-$350

Usage

#39 on a cover to the Cape of Good Hope

Usage
This stamp typically was used in combination with other stamps to pay for large weight overseas packages. An example to the Cape of Good Hope is shown above. There are only six surviving covers with #39.

Commonly forged

A crude forgery

Click the image to enlarge

#39 is one of the most altered 19th Century US stamps. They are frequently regummed, rebacked and repaired. As the used stamp is more valuable there are many with fake cancels. My guess is that one in ten have a fake cancel applied, one in four have been reperforated and one in twelve regummed. Due to the majority of #39 having faults or having being altered I recommend not purchasing any #39 without an accompanying certificate.

The Armitage cover

The “Armitage” cover

Click the image to enlarge

To illustrate the complexity of long distance mail across the globe take a look at the journey of the Armitage cover shown below. The Suez Canal was under construction at the time and was not opened until 1869, in the mean time mail was sent by rail from Alexandria to Suez.

The inspiration for the design

George Washington

George Trumbull, 1792

Detail from painting

The inspiration for the design of the 1860 90c US stamp was a portrait of George Washington painted by John Trumbull in 1792.

The general is shown on the evening before the pivotal Battle of Trenton in late 1776. He looks upward, conceiving his strategy against the vastly superior approaching enemy. The significance of the moment is expressed in the drama of the threatening sky and by the excitable horse, held in check by a soldier groom