1869 15c Landing of Columbus, Brown and Blue, Hard Wove Paper, Type I & II, G Grill, Perf. 12

Own Both Sought-After Landing of Columbus Stamps 
Some of First Bi-Color And First “Non-Portrait” U.S. Postage Stamps

Can you tell the difference between U.S. #118 & 119?

US #118 and #119 look very similar, but there are major differences between them...

US #118 (Type I) has a single line framing the vignette.  It was sold for less than two months because misalignments between the frame and vignette were noticeable.  Only 120,000 Type I stamps were distributed before they were replaced by US #119.

Postal officials decided to add extra bands of lines around the inside of the frame surrounding the vignette to make any slight misalignment less noticeable.  A “diamond” ornament was placed at the top center of that frame, just below the “T” in postage.  This newly engraved stamp, US #119, is referred to as a “Type II.”

The Pictorials are the only stamps to feature the “G” grill.

Beginning in the 1860s, the government was concerned that customers were cleaning and reusing postage stamps.  Charles F. Steele invented a device that “grilled” stamps to prevent reuse.  This machine utilized a roller that was either pitted with small depressions or had raised pyramids.  When such rollers were run over paper, its fibers were broken, leaving a pattern.  The broken fibers allowed ink to sink thoroughly into the paper, making ink removal virtually impossible.

The Series of 1869 was printed by the National Bank Note Company.  This company was awarded the contract because it held the patent for the grilling process.  This made it the only choice available to the Post Office Department.

Different shapes or patterns of grills were used during stamp production.  Studying grills is an interesting part of our hobby.  The various grills used on US postage stamps are identified by letter names.  All the 1869 Pictorials feature the “G” grill – they are the only stamps to do so. 

The 1869 Pictorial Series

When the 1869 Pictorial stamps were issued, they were considered radical.  They were the first US postage stamps to picture something other than the head or bust of a famous leader.  And on top of that, they included the world’s first bi-color postage stamps.  So, it’s easy to see why the Pictorials created quite a stir among stamp enthusiasts.  However, reactions to the stamps were mostly negative at the time.

It seems the people of the 1860s thought the Pictorial designs were frivolous or improper.  In fact, they were so unpopular that they were discontinued after only one year because of poor sales.  Yet today, they’re recognized as the forerunners of modern commemoratives.  They are among the most highly prized of all classic US stamps.

Today, the pictorial issues are the most popular of the 1840 – 1870 Classic Stamps. Because the stamps were only in circulation for a year, they have become increasingly hard to find in both unused and used condition.