#417 1914 12¢

Basic Information

Color: Claret Brown
Subject: Benjamin Franklin
Watermark: SINGLE-lined USPS
Printing method: Flat plate
Perforations: 12
Scott #: 417
Quantity issued: 3,925,000
Issued: April 29th, 1914

Value

An unused stamp with perfect gum: $25-$50
An unused stamp with gum and a hinge mark: $6-$13
A used stamp: $2-$4

About 417

A large die proof 417-P1

Click image to enlarge

The US 12-cent claret brown stamp of 1914 (Scott #417) was created to facilitate specific postal rate combinations, primarily domestic first-class postage combined with a registry or special delivery fee. It was also widely used for heavier international letters and general parcel post shipments.

It features Benjamin Franklin. In 1912, postal officials split the Washington-Franklin series in half to prevent postal clerks from accidentally mixing up similarly colored stamps in poor artificial light. All stamps 7¢ and lower pictured George Washington, while all stamps 8¢ and higher pictured Benjamin Franklin.

Usage

#417 on a cover from Veracruz, Mexico

In 1914, a single 12¢ stamp was primarily used to pay a first-class letter combined with the domestic registry fee, or a first-class letter combined with special delivery service

The Plates and a Pane

#417 was issued with the following plate #'s

Number only
6900-02, 10, 13

A pane of 400, there were four panes to a sheet

The Watermark

The SINGLE lined USPS watermark

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

Benjamin Franklin bust by Jean-Antoine Houdon

The portrait of Benjamin Franklin used for the vignette was adapted from a sculpted bust created by the renowned French artist Jean-Antoine Houdon in 1778. The Bureau of Engraving and Printing's primary designer, C. Aubrey Huston, utilized the profile from this famous sculpture for the Franklin profile, which was then engraved by artists Marcus W. Baldwin, Edward M. Hall, and Robert Ponickau.