2¢
Brown
NO GRILL
Subject:Post Horse
Number issued: not known
Perforations: P12
Printer: National Bank Note Co.
Scott #: 124
Earliest known use: 1875
Used
$150 - $300
No postmark with gum (MH)
$900 - $2,500
Full perfect gum, no postmark
no trace of stamp hinge mark (MNH)
No sales recorded
The earliest known date of use, March 20th, 1880
The stamp paid the rate for drop letters where no carrier delivery was available and for unsealed circulars.
#113, the grilled version of this stamp has a much lower value than #124. There is a temptation for some to press the grill out of #113 to make it appear as it it was a #124. Many #113's have weak or faint grills and this makes the task of pressing out the grill easier. This is done by soaking the stamp and pressing out the grill and any loose or stray fibres.
In my reason for this reason #124's need to be certificated
The vignette was based on Franklin's contemporary post rider illustration (top image). It was the first U.S. stamp to bear an image other than a prominent American. The inspiration for this was the then new United States Post Office Department (USPOD) seal (bottom image).