1851 12-Cent Washington Black (Scott #17)

The 1851 12-Cent Washington in black is one of the cornerstones of classic American philately. Cataloged as Scott #17, this stamp was issued to pay the rate for letters traveling over 3,000 miles, primarily correspondence between the eastern states and the newly acquired territories of California and Oregon. It features an engraved portrait of George Washington in black ink on white paper, and it represents the early American postal system at a pivotal moment in the nation's westward expansion.

Historical Context

The United States issued its first postage stamps in 1847: a 5-cent Benjamin Franklin and a 10-cent George Washington. These stamps served well for a few years, but by 1851, postal reforms and the expansion of the country created a need for new denominations and designs.

The Act of March 3, 1851, reduced domestic postage rates and introduced a new series of stamps. The 1851 issue included denominations of 1 cent, 3 cents, 5 cents, 10 cents, and 12 cents. The 12-cent value was specifically designed for the long-distance letter rate.

California had joined the Union in 1850, and the Gold Rush was driving enormous volumes of mail between the East Coast and the Pacific. A letter from New York to San Francisco covered well over 3,000 miles, making the 12-cent stamp essential for this corridor. The stamp quite literally connected the two halves of a rapidly expanding nation.

Design and Production

The 12-Cent Washington was engraved and printed by Toppan, Carpenter, Casilear & Co. of Philadelphia under contract with the Post Office Department. The design features:

• Portrait: George Washington, based on a bust by Jean-Antoine Houdon

• Color: Black (the defining characteristic that distinguishes it from later color changes)

• Paper: Thin to medium white wove paper

• Perforation: Imperforate (all 1851 issue stamps were issued without perforations)

• Printing Method: Flat plate engraving

The stamps were printed in sheets and had to be cut apart by postal clerks or customers using scissors or knives. This means that margins vary significantly from stamp to stamp, and the quality of the margins is a major factor in valuation.

Specifications:

Varieties and Types

The Scott #17 exists in several recognized varieties that affect value:

Shade Varieties:

• Full black: The standard shade, a deep, rich black

• Gray black: A lighter, grayish tone, sometimes from worn plates

• Intense black: A particularly deep impression

Paper Varieties:

• Thin paper: More translucent, earlier printings

• Medium paper: Standard thickness

Plate Varieties: The stamps were printed from multiple plates, and different plate positions show varying characteristics. Plating studies (identifying the exact position on the printing plate from which a particular stamp came) are a specialized area of collecting.

Related Issues:

• Scott #17a: 12 cents gray black, a recognized shade variety

• Scott #36: The 1857 perforated version of the same design

• Scott #36B: 12 cents black, plate 3 (a later printing)

Condition and Grading

Grading imperforate stamps requires attention to factors that do not apply to perforated stamps:

Margins: Since these stamps were cut by hand, the margins (space between the design and the edge of the stamp) vary enormously. Four clear, even margins significantly increase value.

Condition Grades:

Current Values:

On Cover (Used on Original Envelope): The 12-cent stamp on a complete original cover is significantly more valuable than an off-cover stamp. A clean cover with a legible postmark, addressed to California during the Gold Rush era, can bring $500-$2,000 or more depending on origin, destination, and condition.

Authentication

The 12-Cent Washington Black requires careful authentication due to several concerns:

Color Identification: Distinguishing the black shade (Scott #17) from later printings or shade varieties requires experience. The distinction between #17 (1851 black) and later issues affects value.

Repairs: Common repairs include margin additions, thin spot filling, and tear mending. These repairs can be difficult to detect without expert examination.

Cancellation Removal: Some collectors attempt to remove cancellations to present used stamps as unused. Chemical removal can sometimes be detected under ultraviolet light.

Paper and Gum: Original gum on 1851 stamps is brownish and somewhat uneven. Regumming (applying new gum to simulate original gum) is a common deception.

For stamps valued above $500, certification from a recognized expertizing service is strongly recommended.

The California Connection

The 12-cent rate and the stamps that paid it are inseparable from the story of westward expansion. Consider the journey a letter took in 1851:

• A letter posted in New York would be carried by rail or stagecoach to a port

• From there, it might travel by steamship to Panama

• Across the isthmus by mule or rail (the Panama Railroad was under construction)

• By another steamship up the Pacific coast to San Francisco

• The total transit time was typically 3-6 weeks

Each surviving 12-cent stamp on cover is a physical document of this remarkable postal journey. The postmarks tell stories of origin and routing that philatelic historians have spent decades studying.

Collecting Strategies

Entry Level: A used Scott #17 in Fine condition with good color can be acquired for under $150. This is a genuine 1851 stamp at an accessible price point.

Intermediate: Collectors seeking better quality should look for Very Fine used examples with four clear margins and light cancellations. Budget $250-$400.

Advanced: Unused examples with original gum, plate varieties, and stamps on cover represent the upper end of collecting. These require larger budgets and more careful authentication.

Specialist: Plating studies, shade varieties, and postal history (stamps on covers with specific routes and cancellations) offer deep engagement for advanced collectors.

Why It Matters

The 1851 12-Cent Washington Black connects collectors to one of the most dramatic periods in American history. Each stamp represents a letter that someone paid the equivalent of several dollars (in today's money) to send across an expanding continent. The Gold Rush, westward migration, and the challenge of maintaining communication across 3,000 miles of wilderness are all embedded in this small piece of engraved paper.

For philatelists, Scott #17 is a classic United States stamp with enough variety, historical depth, and market liquidity to sustain years of collecting interest. It is available at price points from accessible to aspirational, and it rewards careful study with a richness that few stamps can match.

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