US 156 Benjamin Franklin 1c Bank Note - Continental Bank Note Co - Used Fine HR

Item Specifics

Country

United States

Catalog Number

156

Stamp Type

General Issue

Condition

Used

Centering

Fine

Stamp Format

Single

Topic

People - Politicians

Year of Issue

1873

Item Description

The Continental Bank Note Company reused all the National Bank Note Company’s 1870-1871 Issue printing plates. To distinguish its printings from these plates, the Continental Bank Note Company engraved a small mark (termed a ‘secret mark’ in philately) on the plates for most denominations.

The 1-cent Franklin has its secret mark at the bottom of the stamp. It is the small horizontal dash in the largest of the ‘pearls’ immediately to the left of the numeral ‘1’. The Continental Bank Note Company most likely engraved this mark with a small amount of acid applied to the plate on each stamp.

Beginning on May 1, 1873, the Post Office Department set a new one-cent rate for postcards, which the 1-cent Franklin filled. The stamp could also have been used for some third-class mail, drop letters, or in combination with other denominations, to fulfill higher rates. The Continental Bank Note Company printed approximately 780,000,000 stamps for the 1-cent Franklin issue over a period of six years. National Bank Note Company had only printed it for three years but produced double the number of 1-cent stamps.

US 156 – Benjamin Franklin 1c Large Bank Note – Continental Bank Note Company – Used – Fine Centering

2019 Scott United States Specialized Catalog Value for Condition - $2.00

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Seller Information

Seller

StanC3 (163)

Registered Since

10/02/2014

Feedback

100%

• Sales

Item Location

North Carolina, United States

Ships To

Worldwide

Returns Accepted

Yes

Returns Policy

If an item does not match the description and images to your satisfaction, no questions asked returns will be accepted within 30 days of order shipment. Buyer pays return shipping.