1850 US 10-Cent Washington (Type III, Scott #15)

America's Early Postal Treasure

The United States 10-cent Washington stamp designated as Scott #15 is one of the cornerstone issues of American philately. Issued in 1855 as part of the 1851 stamp series, this Type III variety features George Washington in a design that has become synonymous with the dawn of the American postal system. While the catalog designation references the 1851 series, the Type III printing was actually introduced in 1855, placing this stamp at a critical juncture in the development of U.S. postal history.

For collectors of classic U.S. stamps, the Scott #15 represents both a technical study in printing variations and a tangible connection to an era when the postal service was the lifeline of a rapidly expanding nation.

The 1851 Series Context

The 1851 stamp issue holds a special place in American philatelic history. It was the first general-issue U.S. stamp series produced by a private contractor (Toppan, Carpenter, Casilear and Company) rather than the government itself. The series replaced the 1847 issue and introduced several denominations to accommodate different postal rates.

The 10-cent denomination was primarily used for letters traveling more than 3,000 miles, a rate that served the growing correspondence between the eastern states and the West Coast during the California Gold Rush era. The stamp also served international mail routes, making it an essential workhorse of mid-19th century postal operations.

The series used imperforate printing (stamps were cut apart with scissors or knives rather than torn along perforations), which means that margins and centering are critical factors in determining grade and value.

Understanding the Type Classifications

The 10-cent Washington stamp exists in several "Type" varieties, classified by the completeness of the design at the top and bottom of the stamp. These types resulted from the way the printing plate was created and how it wore over time:

Type I (Scott #13): The most complete design, showing the full outer frame lines at top and bottom. The shell ornaments at the bottom are complete and the curved lines below extend fully. This is the scarcest type.

Type II (Scott #14): The outer lines at the top or bottom are partially cut away. The shells are complete, but the frame lines are incomplete at the top and/or bottom.

Type III (Scott #15): The outer frame lines are broken at both top and bottom. The shells and ornamental work are complete, but the frame shows interruptions that distinguish it from Types I and II. This is the type variety most commonly encountered by collectors.

Type IV (Scott #16): Similar to Type III but with the outer lines recut (re-engraved) at top or bottom, sometimes both. These recuts are visible under magnification and represent the engraver's attempt to restore worn design elements.

The Type classification system reflects the physical reality of steel plate printing in the 1850s. As plates were used to print thousands of sheets, the fine lines of the design wore down, particularly at the edges where the frame lines were thinnest. Different positions on the plate wore at different rates, creating the variety of types that collectors now classify and study.

Technical Specifications

• Scott Number: 15

• Denomination: 10 cents

• Color: Green (various shades from yellow-green to deep green)

• Design: Portrait of George Washington

• Printing: Engraved, flat plate, imperforate

• Paper: Thin to medium weight wove paper

• Watermark: None

• Perforation: Imperforate (stamps were cut individually)

• Printer: Toppan, Carpenter, Casilear & Co.

• Designer/Engraver: Based on Gilbert Stuart's portrait of Washington

Color Varieties

The 10-cent stamp was printed in green ink, but the shade varies considerably across printings:

Yellow-Green: Earlier printings tend toward a warmer, yellowish-green tone Green: The standard shade, a balanced medium green Dark Green: Later printings often appear in deeper, more saturated greens Blue-Green: Some printings show a distinctly cool, bluish-green tone

Color varieties affect value, with certain shades being scarcer than others. The darker and more vivid shades typically command modest premiums, though the primary value driver remains condition and type classification rather than color.

Value Guide

Condition Grade: A (Fine or better) / B+ (Good)

On cover (still attached to the original envelope), values can be significantly higher, particularly for attractive covers with clear cancellations and interesting postal markings or destinations.

Cancellation Types and Their Impact

The type of cancellation on a used Scott #15 significantly affects its desirability:

Manuscript (Pen) Cancellations: The most common type on early stamps. A neat pen cancel is acceptable, but heavy or disfiguring pen marks reduce value.

Grid Cancellations: Geometric patterns applied with hand-held devices. Clean, lightly applied grids are preferred.

Town Cancellations: Circular date stamps showing the town name and date. These are the most desirable cancellations because they provide postal history information. Clear, readable town cancels command premiums.

Colored Cancellations: Red, blue, or other colored cancellations are scarcer than standard black and command premiums from specialist collectors.

Carrier Cancellations: Applied by city letter carriers, these are uncommon and desirable.

The ideal used stamp has a light, clear cancellation that does not obscure the design while providing postal history interest.

Plating Studies

Advanced collectors of the 1851 series engage in "plating," the process of identifying the specific position on the printing plate from which an individual stamp was printed. Each position on the plate has unique characteristics created by the hand-transfer process used to create the plate.

Plating the 10-cent stamp is a specialized pursuit that requires reference to detailed plating guides and considerable experience. Successfully plated stamps carry premiums among specialist collectors, and certain plate positions are rarer than others.

Collecting Approaches

The Scott #15 can be collected in several ways:

Single Stamp Collection: A fine used or unused example provides representation of this important issue. This is the most common approach for general U.S. collectors.

Type Study: Collecting all four types (Scott #13-16) of the 10-cent denomination creates a study of printing plate wear and variation. This is a popular approach for classic U.S. specialists.

Cover Collection: Stamps on original covers provide postal history context. Covers to California, Oregon, and international destinations from the 1850s are particularly desirable.

Color Study: Assembling examples in different shades creates a visual study of the printing variations.

Pairs and Multiples: Stamps still joined together (pairs, strips, blocks) are scarcer than singles and command significant premiums.

Storage and Handling

Classic imperforate stamps require careful handling:

Use stamp tongs (not tweezers) to handle stamps. The broad, flat tips of philatelic tongs distribute pressure evenly without damaging the paper.

Mount stamps using hinges or, preferably, clear mounts that do not contact the stamp surface. For unused stamps with original gum, never-hinged mounting preserves the gum and maximizes value.

Store in a climate-controlled environment. The paper stock of 1850s stamps is particularly sensitive to humidity, which can cause foxing (brown spots) and mold.

Avoid exposure to direct sunlight, which will fade the green ink over time.

Market Outlook

Classic U.S. stamps from the 1851-1857 series have shown steady, reliable appreciation over the past several decades. The collector base for these issues is mature and knowledgeable, with prices reflecting genuine scarcity rather than speculative interest.

The Scott #15 benefits from its role as a "completist" requirement. Any serious collection of 19th-century U.S. stamps must include representation from the 1851 series, and the Type III 10-cent is the most accessible entry point for the denomination.

Fine and better examples have shown consistent upward price movement, driven by shrinking supply as collections are donated to institutions and the finest examples are absorbed into permanent holdings.

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