#94 1868 3¢ F grill

Basic Information

Color: Red
Subject: George Washington
Printing method: line-engraved intaglio on flat plates
Printer: The National Bank Note Company
Perforations: 12
Watermark: none
Type of Grill: F
Scott #: 94
Plates: 11, 14, 32, 34-36, 52
Quantity issued: 225,000,000
Issued: Mid March, 1868

Value

An unused stamp with perfect gum: $4,750-$5,750
An unused stamp with gum and a hinge mark: $75-$140
A used stamp: $2-$5

F 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 F grill was the last of the grills. Grilling was expensive and it was increasingly seen that there was no need for it. Grilling did have a benefit; it helped the National Banknote Company win the contract

Points: 11-12 x 15-17 points
Size: 9 x 13mm

Usage

#94 on earliest day of use cover, dated March 21st, 1868

#94 was primarily used to pay the standard 3-cent domestic letter rate for mail weighing up to 1/2 ounce. As the most common postage stamp of its era, it was heavily used throughout the Civil War period for first-class mail.

Domestic Letter Rate: The most frequent use was for standard mail traveling distances over 3,000 miles (or any distance once the uniform rate was established in 1863).
Multiples for Higher Rates: These stamps were often used in multiples to pay for heavier letters or for international mail destinations requiring higher postage..
Civil War Soldiers' Mail: It was widely used by Union soldiers to send letters home, though soldiers were also permitted to send mail "postage due" if no stamps were available.

The Inspiration for the Design

Houdon’s bust

Montgomery Blair

Portrait Source
Houdon created the original bust from a plaster life mask and wet clay models during a 1785 visit to Mount Vernon at the invitation of Benjamin Franklin. It is considered one of the most accurate representations of Washington.
Artistic Elements
The stamp depicts Washington in profile facing left, with his hair tied back and his shoulders draped in a Roman toga.
Montgomery Blair
A notice went out to Postmasters declaring that they could exchange the Montgomery Blair was the Postmaster General at the time. He was an ardent and loyal Lincoln supporter. He was enthusiastic in his drive to deprive the South of both a mail service and Federal Stamps. His haste only led to delays in the transition and the birth of various schemes by entrepreneurs to profit from the change. He was fortunate in that new designs had already been prepared before his tenure, and thus he was able to implement his plans a little more quickly than possible.

#94a,#94c and #94d

#94a Rose

#94c Imperforate Horizontally

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#94d Printed both sides

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94a
Unlike the other 1868 grill, this grill was issued primarily printed in red. Much less common is the rose shade.

94d
IMentioned by Brookman, a very clear strip with a plate 35 imprint on the reverse side.