United States Stamp History
Stamp Book Leaflets

FIRST ONE CENT WASHINGTON

The Stamp Book Issue of February 8, 1912
1 cent Washington, Imprint IX, 16 Plates

SL Vertical Watermark Perf 12
Green

From the beginning of stamp book issue, Franklin had appeared on the 1 cent stamp, but he was being dropped in favor of Washington. Washington's bust by Houdon was to be used for future issues. There would be no change in leaflet design until the issue of 1923.

The usual varieties for 360-subject stamp book leaflets, with or without guide line positions, were all available. Shifted transfer and/or double transfer had been reported. Other unusual varieties were unreported.

The contemplated change in design had not yet been completed when the reserve Franklin stock supply reached zero before the new ordinary stamp was issued. The new Washington design for stamp books had been crafted, so it was pressed into manufacture. Stamp books were issued before the ordinary stamp by a few days. Leaflets became very popular requiring many ink mixtures resulting in several collectible shades. The issue totaled 66,666,667 leaflets or 400,000,002 stamps. This amount was almost triple the previous issue of 1910. Schmidt's arithmetic indicates that the most Position N possible, would be 266,667. I propose that 1% survived for collectors. That's over 2.6 thousand leaflets. No way could this be fact! Most collectors are aware of Positions A and D. Few did not think twice about collecting the other positions. Common sense tells me there is no way anyone can guess the leaflets destroyed or stamps used for any issue. But that's only my opinion, to which I am entitled.

Although the primary color was green, leaflets appeared in various shades such as green, light green, dark green, and yellow-green. Perf 12 was first used for the 1900 stamp book leaflet, and was used for the last leaflet of 1912. The 16 plates numbers are not hard to find. None are considered scarce.

There are several book covers for the issue of 1912 including type II-a, type II-b, type II-c, type II-d, and type II-e. The book covers left over from 1910 started the book covers for 1912. Type II-a and type II-b are almost the same. The inside front cover is different, (See line 19). Type II-c introduces the Pictorial Washington Post Office on the outside front cover. Covers are completely different on all four texts. (See BIA's Postage Stamp Booklet Covers.) Type II-d inside front cover: Omit: MUST BE PREPAID WITH PARCEL POST STAMPS. Type II-e inside back cover: Omit: WITH ORDINARY STAMPS. See line 11. Thus the covers can be properly identified if the information of B.I.A.'s check list of the POSTAGE STAMP BOOKLET COVERS of the United States is followed All covers of the Flat Plate Era will easily show what the text should be. Mr Rogers, B.I.A 34, reported a type II-e book with some of the leaflets watermarked and some not. This book was not verified as existing. It was LAVENDER Printed Green. This 1c book cover color was used in issues of 1912, 1914, 1916, and 1917.