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U.S. 1894-1898 Bureau Issues and 1908 Washington-Franklin Stamps

Three early 20th-century US postage stamps including a 1-cent Franklin and two 2-cent Washingtons with heavy black cancellations. - view 1
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Estimated value

$1 - $5

Rarity

Ordinary(3/10)

Category

Stamps

Brand

Bureau of Engraving and Printing

Era

1894-1912

Origin

United States

Authenticity

High(80%)
16

U.S. 1894-1898 BUREAU ISSUES AND 1908 WASHINGTON-FRANKLIN STAMPS: IDENTIFICATION

Three United States regular issue postage stamps showing signs of chemical alteration. The first is a 1-cent Benjamin Franklin from the 1908-1912 Washington-Franklin series, featuring a straight edge at the left margin and an unnatural blue hue. The second and third are 2-cent George Washington issues from the 1894-1898 First Bureau series, identifiable by the distinctive triangles in the upper corners. All three bear heavy black cork or killer cancellations.

POSTAL HERITAGE

The Bureau of Engraving and Printing assumed postage stamp production from the American Bank Note Company in 1894, adding small triangles to the upper corners of the 2-cent Washington design to distinguish their work. In 1908, the Post Office Department standardized designs with the ...
The Bureau of Engraving and Printing assumed postage stamp production from the American Bank Note Company in 1894, adding small triangles to the upper corners of the 2-cent Washington design to distinguish their work. In 1908, the Post Office Department standardized designs with the Washington-Franklin series to reduce production costs, initially utilizing Franklin's profile exclusively for the 1-cent denomination.

PHILATELIC NOTES

1

The green ink used for the 1908 1-cent Franklin was composed of Prussian blue and chrome yellow; chemical cleaning often destroys the yellow component, leaving behind a blue 'changeling' stamp.

SCARCITY

Ordinary40-55%
CommonLegendary

Standard antiques commonly found at estate sales and flea markets. Plentiful supply meets modest demand.

Typical Characteristics

  • Moderate production runs
  • Common at estate sales
  • Entry-level collectibles

Confidence Factors

    How does authenticity detection work?

    PHILATELIST'S VERDICT

    Philatelist

    Stamp Specialist

    The engraved details, specific corner triangles on the 1894 issues, and characteristic Washington-Franklin frame confirm the exact issues, while the color anomalies perfectly align with known chemical reactions for these specific BEP inks.

    KEY EVIDENCE

    • 1Presence of upper-corner triangles on the 2-cent stamps isolates them as 1894-1898 First Bureau Issues.
    • 2The 'U.S. POSTAGE' ribbon and Franklin profile identifies the 1-cent as a 1908-1912 Washington-Franklin issue.

    WHAT WOULD IMPROVE CERTAINTY

    • →Apply watermark fluid to the reverse to check for double-line or single-line USPS watermarks, which differentiates the 1894 from the 1895/1898 Bureau issues.

    CONDITION & GRADE

    Spacefiller to Good (G)

    Grading breakdown

    Grades are severely limited by the heavy, design-obscuring cancellations, a straight edge on the 1-cent issue, and the chemical alteration of the original fugitive inks.

    Condition

    All three examples exhibit heavy, obliterating cancellations. The 1-cent Franklin displays a left-side straight edge, indicating it originated from the outer margin of a sheet or a booklet pane. The severe color deviations—specifically the 1-cent appearing blue instead of green, and one 2-cent appearing grayish-green instead of carmine—strongly indicate chemical alteration or severe environmental oxidation.

    PHILATELIC VALUATION

    $1 - $5

    Updated: Aug 27, 2026

    • Market comparables from auctions & retail
    • Condition, completeness & craftsmanship
    • Current collector demand & trends
    • Low = quick sale, high = patient seller

    For informational purposes only, not a formal appraisal.

    YOUR INPUT VS. SCAN

    How your provided context compares with Curiosa.com scanner findings.

    What Aligned

    • User's assertion of USA origin perfectly matches the Bureau of Engraving and Printing designs.
    • The 'Restored' condition noted by the user directly explains the unnatural colors, as chemical washing to remove stains often turns 19th-century green and carmine inks into blue or brown changelings.

    What Conflicted

    • While the base paper and printing are 'Original/Authentic', the chemical alteration has stripped the stamps of their original factory colors, making them reference copies rather than original-state collectibles.

    FROM THE CABINET OF

    PH

    philip

    Wonderseeker•0 items

    COMMENTS

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