Scotts #734 US stamps

Basic Info

5¢ Bright blue

Printing Method: Flat Plate
Subject: Statue of General Kosciuszko
Perforations:11
Number issued: 45,137,700
Scott #: 734
Issued: October 13th, 1933

Value of #734

Used
25¢ - 35¢
No postmark with gum (MH)
50¢
Full perfect gum, no postmark
no trace of stamp hinge mark (MNH)
75¢ - $1

First Day Covers

A first day cover dated October 13th, 1933

Plate #'s

#734 was issued with the following plate #'s

Number only
21173-76

A Full pane

A pane of 100, there were four panes to a sheet of 400. Shown above is the top left pane

The story behind the stamp

#690 and #734

A 1932 Polish stamp with vignettes of Kosciuszko, Washington and Pulaski.

In 1931 when the Pulaski stamp (#690 shown above left) was issued there had been a similar request for a Kosciusko stamp but this was rejected. The members of the Polish National Alliance kept the issue alive by, from time to time, writing to the Department requesting such an issue.

In December 1932 a bill was introduced in the House of Representatives by Congressman Charles A. Wolverton of New Jersey to provide a special stamp to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the naturalization of General Kosciusko.

The design inspiration

Kosciuszko statue in Lafayette Park, Washington, D.C. by Tadeusz Popiel

The polish freedom fighter Thaddeus Kosciuszko was a brilliant military engineer who designed the successful fortifications during the American Revolution, notably at West Point.

The vignette of the stamp is based on the statue shown above.