#86 1868 1¢ E grill

Basic Information

Color: Blue
Subject: Benjamin Franklin
Printing method: line-engraved intaglio on flat plates
Printer: The National Bank Note Company
Perforations: 12
Watermark: none
Type of Grill: E
Scott #: 86
Plates: 9-10, 22, 25, 27
Quantity issued: 3,000,000
Issued: First week of March, 1868

Value

An unused stamp with perfect gum: $2,400-$3,250
An unused stamp with gum and a hinge mark: $900-$1,300
A used stamp: $100-$150

E Grill Detail

Over 95% of grills are either E or F grills. The A, B, C, and D grills had proved to be unsatisfactory, mostly due to their presence on the stamp making the stamp difficult to separate. The Z grill did not have that problem but for whatever reason it was printed in very limited quantities. The E grill is often confused with the Z grill as the size of the grill is similar and they are on the same values. Close examination of the E grill will reveal the grills have a vertical orientation as shown above. Whilst the Z grills have a horizontal orientation. Both the E and Z grills have their grill points facing down

Points: 15 x 17 points.
Size: 11 x 13mm

Usage

Earliest known use of #86, March 9th, 1868 (arrived Ill, 3/11/68)

#86 was primarily used for prepaying the 1-cent postage rate for "drop letters" (delivered within the same post office), circulars, and newspapers during the early Civil War era. It was the standard adhesive for low-weight, local mail and printed matter.

Drop Letters: 1¢ per 1/2 ounce for letters delivered in the same city or town where mailed.
Printed Matter: Used for newspapers, circulars, and other printed items.
Carrier Fee: Used to pay the fee for local delivery by mail carriers

The Inspiration for the Design

The design of the 1861 US 1¢ stamp (#63) was inspired by a sculpture of Benjamin Franklin, which is currently located in the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts in Philadelphia.

The portrait was modeled after a bust (sculpture) of Franklin, not a painting, contrasting with many other 1861 issues that were modeled after paintings.