4¢ orange brown, brown
Subject: George Washington
Printing Method:: Rotary press
Perforations: 10 vertically
Watermark:: no watermark
Scott #: 495
Quantity Issued: 67,595,890
Issued: April 15th, 1917
Used
$11 - $20
No postmark with gum (MH)
$8 - $15
Full perfect gum, no postmark
no trace of stamp hinge mark (MNH)
$17 - $35
A solid line between two stamps, seen along the perforations in the middle, was the joint where two plates meet, the ink fills in the gap. They would be placed between each pane of 17 stamps. They can triple the value of the pair.
Prior to this stamp coils had been issued in all manner of perforations. If the perforation was too large the stamps tore whilst separating from each other. Too small and the coils of stamps broke apart before they could be sold. The 10 perforation proved to be the ideal balance for coil stamps, and from this point on all coil stamps were issued with this perforation.
This stamp was in production all the way through to 1923, making it the most common 4¢ coil.
Earliest documented date of use, June 20th, 1917