Scotts #36 US stamps 1857 12c

#36 - 1857 12¢ Perforated - Plate 1

12¢
Black, gray black, intense black

Printing Method: Engraved
Plate: 1
Printer: Toppan, Carpenter & Co.
Subject: George Washington
Number issued: 3,000,000
Perforations: 15½
Scott #: 36
Earliest date of use: July 30th, 1857

Value

Used
$25 - $110
No postmark with gum (MH)
$250 - $350
Full perfect gum, no postmark
no trace of stamp hinge mark (MNH)
$2,500

Identifying #36

Double Transfer

The double transfer can be identified by the rosette points overflowing into the right bottom margin.

Fakes

A fake bisect with a fake cancel on piece

Five singles, all rebacked, all with fake vertical perforations and all with removed cancels to appear as if an unused strip of five.

#36a

#36a
Bisect
Three known covers

#36c

#36c
Vertical imperforate in between
Three known examples
Value $4,000 - $6,750

The Imprint

As far as I can see there is no recorded example of a complete imprint. A one stamp wide imprint is all that is left to us

Inspiration for the Design

The 12¢ portrait of George Washington differs slightly from the 10¢ portrait as it was based off Durand's engraving (shown above) and not the original painting. The result was a more clearly defined portrait. The 10¢ portrait is more faithful to the original, keeping more of the 'wood teeth' smile that Gilbert captured so well.

Stamp usage

This stamp typically was used most commonly for mail to Great Britain (example shown above), as a pair, for double rate domestic mail over 3,000 miles or for quadruple rate mail under 3,000 miles.