Scotts #466 US stamps

#466 - 1916 - Perf. 10 - Unwatermarked

5¢ light blue, bright blue, blue, dark blue

Printing Method: Flat Plate
Subject: George Washington
Number issued: 36,967,000
Perforations: 10
Watermark: Unwatermarked
Scott #: 466
Issued: October 17th, 1916

Value

Used
25¢ - $1
No postmark with gum (MH)
$15 - $22.50
Full perfect gum, no postmark
no trace of stamp hinge mark (MNH)
$40 - $60

Earliest known date of use

Earliest known date of use: December 7th, 1916

Precancels

While these stamps were current, the Bureau of Engraving and Printing made the first experimental precanceled stamps. An example of a precancel is shown above. Almost all precancels have a solid line above and below the location name.

Notable Sales

Plate blocks of this issue are relatively uncommon

Sold at Michael E. Aldrich Auctions, April 2021 for $546 (MNH/MH)

Explore Michael E. Aldrich Auctions

A change to Unwatermarked paper

During the World War I questions of economy were paramount and the Bureau finding that unwatermarked paper could be bought at considerable saving specified this for their contracts effective July 1, 1916. On August 22 this new paper was first used.

While these stamps were current, the Bureau of Engraving and Printing made the first experimental precanceled stamps. These were prepared for Augusta, Me., New Orleans, La., and Springfield, Mass.