Scotts #704 US stamps

#704 1932 Washington Bicentennial ½¢

½¢ Olive brown, deep olive brown, dull olive brown, dark olive brown

Printing Method: Rotary Press
Subject: George Washington
Perforations: 11 x 10½
Number issued: 87,978,600
Scott #: 704
Issued: January 1st, 1932

Value

Used
25¢ - 40¢
No postmark with gum (MH)
25¢
Full perfect gum, no postmark
no trace of stamp hinge mark (MNH)
50¢ - $1

First Day Covers

A first day cover, dated January 1st, 1932

Plate #'s

#704 was issued with the following plate #'s

Number only
20559-60
20605-29, 98-99

The Story Behind the Stamp

The 200th anniversary of George Washington's birthday was considered by the Post Office a big event. The original proposal was to issue a series of bi-color stamps featuring the life of the president. Some examples are shown above. That was changed when a portrait of Washington by Robert Peel was discovered. This gave the Postmaster General the idea of featuring various portraits of Washington on the series.

A Full Pane

A pane of 100, there were four panes to a sheet of 400

The design inspiration

The vignette is a copy of George Washington's 1777 painting by Charles Willson Peale. He sat for Peale about the time he and his army were camped at Valley Forge.