Basic Information
Colors: Pale blue. blue, dark blue
Subject: Benjamin Franklin
Plate: I late
Printing Method: die-to-relief-to-plate intaglio engraving process
Printer: Toppan, Carpenter, Casilear & Co.
Perforations: imperforate
Watermark: none
Scott #: 9
Type: IV
Quantity Issued: Unknown
Issued: June 5th, 1852
Value
An unused stamp without gum: $300 - $500
A used stamp: $10 - $30 ($100 for pairs)
General Notes
First day cover of #9 June 1st, 1852
#9 is specifically classified as Type IV. It is defined by having at least one outer line at the top or bottom recut.
Interesting points
1) Plate IV (#9) is derived solely from plate I late (reconstruction). This plate was recut in May 1852, the first stamp from this plate being issued on June 1st, 1852.
2) 199 positions of the 200 on the plate were recut and many, if not all, were re-entered (the exception being 4R1L which remained as a type II (Scott #7). Any pair containing position 41RL are extremely collectable, I have not seen one in auction records for the last decade.
3) 113 positions on plate 1 had both the top and bottom lines recut, 40 positions had only the top line recut, 8 positions had only the bottom line recut, 11 positions had a double line recut at the bottom and 4 at the top and 2 positions had a double line recut at both the top and bottom.
4) Stamps with the double recuts (see note #3) are worth more than those with just one recut.
5) There are numerous double transfers, and a few triple transfers, none of which command high prices.
How to read plate positions
The first indicator is a number indicates its position on the plate, so 3RIE would have come from the third stamp on the plate. The number can range from 1 to 100, there being 100 stamps on each plate.
The second indicator is either the letter R or L, R indicates the stamp came from the right pane, L for the left pane. The stamp was printed in sheets of 200, each sheet was further divided into two panes of 100. Hence 3RIE would have come from the right pane as the second indicator in 3R1E is the letter R.
The third indicator can be from numbers I (1) to XII (12). This indicator is always shown in roman numerals. There were twelve plates, there are no stamps from plate VI (6) as it was destroyed before printing began (no doubt it was flawed). For example stamp 4RIL would have come from plate one (1).
The last or fourth indicator is either the letter E or L. The letter 'E' indicate an early state of the plate, the letter 'L' indicates the late state of the plate. This indicator only applies to PLATE I, as it is the only one that has an early and late plate. The early plate is the original plate. After 11 months the plate became worn and 199 of the 200 positions were recut. 113 positions on the plate had both top and bottom lines recut, 40 positions had only the top line recut, 8 positions had only the bottom line recut, 11 positions had a double recut at the bottom and 4 positions had a double recut at the top.
How many plates were there?
There were twelve plates of the 1¢ Franklin made, plate six was never used, probably due to it being damaged in it's creation. Most of the plates were used for both the imperforate and perforated design. Some only produced one type or the other. For instance, plate 12 produced only perforated stamps and the early state of Plate 1 produced only imperforate stamps whilst plate I late (reconstruction) produced both imperforate and perforated stamps. Plate 4 was the last of the imperforate plates to be used.
The Inspiration for the Design
Bust of Franklin
Jean-Jacques Caffieri
A New Contract
Under Postmaster General Nathan K. Hall, the contract to print the 1851 Issue was awarded to the Philadelphia firm of Toppan, Carpenter, Casilear & Co. (Casilear retired in October 1854, but his name was included in plate imprints as late as 1857).
The 1¢ 1851 stamp, with a bust of Franklin based on Caffieri’s sculpture, was one of the workhorses of postage stamps issued during the decade it was current. Twelve plates were required to print sufficient quantities of 1¢ stamps, and the creation of those plates caused Toppan Carpenter a great degree of difficulty.
How to Identify this Stamp
Click the image to enlarge
This specific type is defined by the recutting of the outer frame lines, which was done to strengthen the design on Plate 1 Late.
Key Identifying Features
Examine Frame Lines (Type IV Indicator): Look at the horizontal lines at the top and bottom of the stamp design. On Type IV, one or both of these outer frame lines have been recut.
The lines will appear darker, thicker, or slightly irregular compared to the rest of the design because they were manually engraved back onto the worn plate.
Inspect Ornaments and Scrolls: The top and bottom ornaments (scrolls and plumes) are not complete, as parts were burnished away on the plate to make room for the frame lines.
Unlike the rare Scott #5 (Type I), the plumes at the bottom and the scrolls at the top are significantly trimmed
Notable Stamps
A Precancel
The Unofficial Chicago Perforation
Printed both sides (#9a)
Click the image to enlarge
The Inspiration for the Design
Aaron V. Brown
Postmaster
Bust of Franklin
Jean-Jacques Caffieri
A New Contract
Under Postmaster General Nathan K. Hall, the contract to print the 1851 Issue was awarded to the Philadelphia firm of Toppan, Carpenter, Casilear & Co. (Casilear retired in October 1854, but his name was included in plate imprints as late as 1857). The US postmaster in 1857 was Aaron V. Brown.
The 1¢ 1851 stamp, with a bust of Franklin based on Caffieri’s sculpture, was one of the workhorses of postage stamps issued during the decade it was current. Twelve plates were required to print sufficient quantities of 1¢ stamps, and the creation of those plates caused Toppan Carpenter a great degree of difficulty.
The Types of the 1851-57 One Cent Stamps (Large Diagram)
