At the time this twelve cent stamp was being printed, the Bureau of Engraving and Printing was having considerable trouble in securing proper inks, and the red which was used as the basic color of this stamp was most difficult to obtain. There are two distinct groups of color of this stamp. One group being copper red while the others were claret brown as was the previous issues. The troubles of the Bureau in obtaining satisfactory ink was noted in the philatelic writings of the time. The August 1915 number of the Phiilatelic Gazette gives the following comment :

"Through the efforts of the Bureau of Engraving and Printing and other interested parties, Great Britain has agreed to allow all dyes and chemicals not manufactured here to be shipped from Germany. This means our current two cent value will shortly go back to its former deep color."

This new arrangement affected the color of the twelve cent and the copper red color seemed to give way to the use of claret brown.

Several part perf. varieties of this stamp have been found.

The earliest known use of #435, February 22nd, 1915

#435 was issued with the following plate #'s

Number only
6900-02, 10, 13

A pane of 100, there are four panes to a sheet