#444 1914 2¢ P10 Coil

Basic Information

Color: Carmine
Subject: George Washington
Watermark: SINGLE-lined USPS
Printing method: Flat plate
Perforations: 10 vertical
Scott #: 444
Quantity issued: 80,500,000
Issued: April 25th, 1914

Value for singles

An unused stamp with perfect gum: $10-$15
An unused stamp with gum and a hinge mark: $6-$9
A used stamp: $3-$6

Value for pairs

An unused pair with perfect gum: $65-$165
An unused pair with gum and a hinge mark: $25-$50
A used pair: $10-$20

Usage

The earliest known use of #444, May 19th 1914

In 1914, a 2¢ stamp was the standard rate for domestic first-class letters (weighing up to 1 ounce). It was also widely used to cover the international postcard rate and could be combined to pay basic parcel post fees.

Because of its high demand, the 2¢ stamp was the most heavily printed denomination. Its usage varied depending on the type of mail being sent:

First-Class Letters: The 2¢ rate paid for a sealed, handwritten or typewritten letter delivered anywhere within the United States or its territories.
Parcel Post: Beginning in 1913, the U.S. Post Office introduced a new parcel post system. Initially, packages required special Parcel Post stamps. However, confusion over the rules led the Postmaster General to authorize regular 2¢ and standard postage stamps for parcel use by June 1913.
Postal Cards: A standard international postcard required a 2¢ stamp.

Changing from 12 to 10 perforations

Bureau of Engraving, Washington DC, Men printing sheets and women checking them in the stamp print room

The change from perforation 12 to perforation 10 during 1914 was driven by widespread public and postal worker complaints that the old gauge 12 perforations were too close together and brittle, causing stamp sheets to tear and fall apart too easily during routine handling.

Background and Evolution
Perforation 12 Issues: Introduced around 1908, the 12-gauge holes weakened the paper (especially where watermarks intersected), leading to premature separation.
Coil and Machine Experiments: Earlier adjustments to an 8½ gauge for mechanized coil dispensers proved too tough to tear, forcing a compromise.
The Shift to Gauge 10: The Bureau of Engraving and Printing transitioned sheet and coil formats to a coarser 10-gauge perforation in 1914 to create a sturdier separation standard.
Public Reaction: The new gauge 10 sheet stamps proved too coarse for many users, resulting in tearing rather than clean separation, which soon prompted a further adjustment to gauge 11 for sheets.

Line Pairs

A line pair

Line pairs can be identified by a line along the middle perforations of a pair. The line is created by the pair stradding two panes of stamps. The line is the demarcation line seperating panes. Line pairs increase the value of the stamps.

The Plates

The plate numbers on the top and bottom were cut off and those on the sides were covered by the paste up. Normally the plate number would be covered by the pasted end of the next strip, however in a few instances the plate number is still visible.

#444 was issued with the following plate #'s

Number only
6513, 6669, 6786, 6800, 6827, 6847, 6852, 6859,6862
6867, 6876, 6889, 6893, 6895-98, 6912, 6939, 6943
6952, 6956, 6963, 6976, 6984-86, 6994-98, 7000
7002, 7015, 7019, 7024, 7026, 7028-29, 7047-48, 7051
7053, 7059-67, 7079-7088, 7090-92, 7101-02, 7104-05
7115, 7117, 7120, 7124-25, 7128, 7150, 7155, 7178, 7192-96
7198, 7200-02, 7207, 7224, 7487

Identifying the Watermark on #444

The SINGLE lined USPS watermark of #444

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.