Scotts #681 US stamps

#681 2¢ Ohio River Canalization 1929

2¢ - Lake, Carmine, Bright Carmine

Printing Method: Flat Plate
Subject: Lock No. 5, Monongahela River
Number issued: 32,680,900
Perforations: 11
Scott #: 681
Issued: October 19th, 1929

Value

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

Plate #'s

#681 was issued with the following plate #'s

Number only
19838-41
20005

Plate #'s

#681 in the distinctive lake color was issued with the following plate #

Number only
19838

Hand Painted Covers

Top Cover: A hand painted cover by Dorothy Knapp, postmarked five days after the issue date. These covers typically sell for $1,000

Bottom Cover: A McIntyre over-all hand painted from the period. These covers typically sell for $400 to $500

The Story Behind the Stamp

This stamp does not get much love, its generally only collected to fill a hole in albums. At the time there was a reluctance to create this stamp. The Post Office did not think that completion of construction projects deserved stamps commemorating them.

Those involved with the project pushed for the stamp and even proposed three denominations should be issued. Because the Postmaster General was from Ohio, he agreed to the issue of one stamp, and reluctantly so. Even then the Post Office dragged its feet, taking a nine month delay. As a final insult the first day of issue was pushed back a week for a presidential conference taking place at the time.

The construction project completed 51 wicket locks on the river, greatly aiding navigation. These wicket locks are all gone now, having been replaced by more efficient and larger locks.