Newest addition to my little collection - Scott #30A

Hi kannik I believe I can answer your question. This was the design of the 1851-1860 by Toppan Carpenter & Co.(designer of the Scott #1 & #2) and originally designed to be an imperforate stamp. Later it was re-released as perforated but it's design and plate layout wouldn't accommodate the perforations so some of the design was knocked off at the top and sides creating room for the perforations so a stamp from this period that shows the entire design is highly sought after. As far as the cancellation goes, it is whats called a "Socked On The Nose" (SOTN) and has a very clear date that shows a contemporary usage and can better dial in the shade (Indian Red, Dark Brown, Orange Brown, etc..). Plus the color of the ink used on the cancellation also drives up the value since it is in Blue, which is a pretty rare color to find on this particular issue.
If you would like a little bit more of an in depth study on this particular design then lend me your ear, or perhaps more appropriately, your eyeballs (but that sounds a bit gross) so maybe we shall go back to the ear....eh hem!..sorry I have A.D.D. -(seriously)....OK, where were we again?... AH!

The 5¢ and 10¢ stamps were the last ones created for the new 1851-56 Issue. The first regularly-issued United States stamps, the 5¢ and 10¢ 1847 Issue, were demonetized when the new rates took effect on July 1, 1851. The change of rates eliminated the need for 5¢ and 10¢ stamps. Without an official explanation of the 5¢ stamp’s purpose, philatelists have developed their own theories.

It is unlikely that the 5¢ was specifically intended to prepay the registry fee. The Act of March 3, 1855, provided that “Letters alleged to be valuable posted at one Post Office in the United States, and deliverable at another such office, shall from and after the first day of July 1855 be registered at the office of mailing, on application of the person posting the same, and the payment of a registration fee of five cents.” (Reprinted from Pat Paragraphs, January 1934) However, this fee was usually collected in cash by the sending post office. Payment in stamps for the registry fee was not compulsory until June 1, 1867. There are only two recorded registered usages of the 5¢ stamp. The first is postmarked November 7, 1856. The second was used on July 12; the year date is not known, but it is probably 1856.

The more likely reason for the 5¢ stamp was to pay the Open Mail rate to foreign destinations. Using this rate, covers were sent pre-paying the 3¢ U.S. domestic postage rate, plus the 2¢ “shore-to-ship” fee. The ocean and transit postage to the final destination was collected by the postal authorities in the destination country

The first official mention of a new 5¢ stamp is in the Travers papers. In a letter dated October 19, 1855, the firm of Toppan, Carpenter & Co. wrote to Third Assistant Postmaster General J. Marron :

"Philada. Octo. 19, 1855

Dear Sir:

Herewith please receive several impressions (8) of the new 5 Cents Stamp – The plate is now ready for Press and only waiting the decision of the Post Master General as to the color in which he may direct it to be printed – we have made various experiments in colors, and those now sent are among the best that we have produced – You will recollect that we have “used up” all of the best colors on the other stamps – Red, Blue, Green and Black – we are therefore “put to our trumps” to get another variety that will be handsome and give sufficient body to the Stamp – We tried a Yellow, and a straw color, but found that neither of those colors would shew the work at all – the head was almost entirely lost, and the lathe work a confused mass without any clearness and presenting altogether a most unpleasant appearance.

We think the color of Impression of No. 5 will show the work to best advantage, altho this impression (as well as the others,) has been mashed and the work injured by being pressed before the ink was dry.

We would have them reprinted, but we thought that time would be deemed of paramount importance by you.

Be kind enough to return us the impression which is adopted as the color to be used, (at your earliest convenience) and we will immediately proceed to print the stamps.

Very respectfully,
Your Obt Svts
Toppan Carpenter & Co."

A reply was sent a few days later.

"October 24th 1855

Messrs. Topan, Carpenter & Co.

Gentlemen:

Your letter of the 19th transmitting 8 impressions of the new five cent Stamps was duly >received and laid before the Postmaster General, who was much pleased with the fine taste displayed in the design and the skill evinced in the execution of the stamp. He adopts your opinion as to the color used for impression No. 5 and requests me to say that you can print 6000 impressions or sheets of 100 each to begin with. I have for lack of skill in designating colors, described that used on No. 5 in a circular, I am about to have printed as a brown, May be it so designed, if not what color is it.

Very Respectfully
Your Obedient Servant,
J. Marron,
3rd Asst. P.M. Gen’l."

This exchange sheds light on the creative process behind the 5¢ Jefferson. It answers several questions, such as when the stamp was designed and printed. However, it raises the question why there is such a significant time lapse between the production approval and the earliest documented use.

Printing the 5¢ Stamp
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The 5¢ stamp was printed from a plate of 200 subjects containing a left pane and a right pane of 100 each. The spacing on the pane was very narrow, and did not allow adequate space for separation. The color for the imperforate stamps is surprisingly consistent and it is likely that there was only one printing for the imperforate issue. If it was the 6,000 panes of 100 as mentioned in the letter from the Third Assistant Postmaster General, this would indicate a total quantity printed of 600,000 stamps.

With the introduction of perforations in mid-1857, it is likely that the remaining stock of imperforate stamps on hand was put through the perforating machine, as the color on the first perforated stamps matches that of the imperforates. This was common practice for other denominations. Once the remaining stock ran out, other printings in other shades were made. The earliest date of use for the perforated stamps is as follows:

* August 23, 1857 – Red Brown (Scott 28)

* March 31, 1858 – Indian Red (Scott 28A)

* October 6, 1858 – Brick Red (Scott 27)

* March 21, 1859 – Brown (Scott 29)

The earliest date of use of Scott 28b, Bright Red Brown, is not known. It is possible this was an intermediate printing, after the perforated Red Brown was issued and before the Indian Red was issued almost a year later.