#697 1931 17¢ 10½ x 11 Issue
See below for details
Basic Info
17¢
Grey, deep grey
Printing Method: Rotary Press
Subject: Woodrow Wilson
Perforations: 10½ x 11
Number issued: 35,127,800
Scott #: 697
Issued: August 27th, 1931
Value
Used
25¢ - 40¢
No postmark with gum (MH)
75¢ - $1.50
Full perfect gum, no postmark
no trace of stamp hinge mark (MNH)
$2 - $4
First Day Covers
Two first day covers of #697. The top cover is one of only twenty two covers mailed from Brooklyn, NY, on July 25th, 1931. Brooklyn was the only post office to receive this issue prior to July 27th. Therefore July 25th is regarded as the unofficial first day of issue. Two days later, on the 27th, the stamps were placed on sale at the Philatelic Bureau in Washington DC, the bottom cover is from this agency on that date.
Plate #'s
#697 was issued with the following plate #'s
Number only
20535-36
20724-25
The Story Behind the Stamp
A perforator used on rotary press stamps
Previous stamps of this denomination had been printed with the flat plate and perforated 11. For some time the lower values had been printed on the rotary press with a 11 x 10½. It was now time to bring the values above 10¢ to have the same.
The design inspiration
The vignette was based on this photograph chosen by Mrs Wilson. It was his favorite pose taken during his second term in office.
A full pane
A full pane of 100, there were four panes to a sheet of 400 #697s
1931 Issues
Click your selected stamp
