Decoding the Third Bureau Issues: A Comprehensive Identification and Value Guide to Vintage Washington-Franklin Stamps

The Washington-Franklin series, issued by the United States Post Office Department between 1908 and 1922, represents one of the most complex, challenging, and potentially lucrative eras in American philately. Often referred to by seasoned collectors as the “Third Bureau Issues,” these stamps look almost identical to the untrained eye, featuring simple profile busts of George Washington and Benjamin Franklin modeled after the sculptures of Jean Antoine Houdon.

However, beneath this uniform aesthetic lies a labyrinth of over 250 distinct varieties, ranging in value from a fraction of a cent to hundreds of thousands of dollars. The extreme price variations are driven by production anomalies, subtle design modifications, paper compositions, watermark shifts, and perforation changes implemented by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP) during a period of intense technological transition.

This guide strips away the confusion, providing a point-to-point technical roadmap to successfully identify these vintage issues, separate common varieties from ultra-rare coil wastes, and evaluate their true market value based on professional grading standards.

1. The Core Design Paradigms: Breaking Down the Five Basic Types

Before analyzing microscopic details like watermarks or paper grain, you must classify the stamp into one of five primary design categories designated by the Scott Catalog system.

• Design Type A138 (Franklin – Words Format): Features a profile portrait of Benjamin Franklin. The denomination at the base of the stamp is explicitly spelled out in text format as “ONE CENT”. This specific frame design was reserved exclusively for the 1-cent denomination in the initial production runs.
• Design Type A139 (Washington – Words Format): Features a profile portrait of George Washington. The denomination is spelled out as “TWO CENTS”. This design was utilized primarily for the standard domestic letter rate stamps of the early series.
• Design Type A140 (Washington – Numerical Format): A major shift in design where the text at the bottom was replaced with numbers flanked by text, formatted precisely as “2 CENTS 2”. This layout was applied across a wide range of denominations, scaling from 1-cent all the way up to 1-dollar values.
• Design Type A148 (Franklin – Curved Label Format): Features Benjamin Franklin, but introduces a distinct visual change: the text “U.S. POSTAGE” is engraved in a pronounced curved ribbon or label positioned directly above the portrait. This design covers higher-value denominations starting from 8 cents up to 1 dollar.
• Design Type A149 (Franklin – Bi-Color Large Format): A large, landscape-oriented, horizontal design used exclusively for the high-value $2 and $5 stamps. These were printed using a two-stage process: the frame was printed in a specific color ink, and the Franklin portrait vignette was struck over it in black ink.

2. The Printing Press Methodology: Flat Plate vs. Rotary vs. Offset

The BEP experimented heavily with printing technologies during this era to increase production speeds and decrease waste. Identifying the printing press type is critical, as it directly dictates the catalog value.

Flat Plate Printing

• Production Process: Sheets of paper were pressed onto flat engraved plates.
• Visual Characteristic: The ink is heavily raised on the surface of the paper, giving the design a sharp, crisp, and tactile texture.
• The Reverse Test: The back of a flat plate stamp frequently displays tiny flecks or specular dots of green or carmine ink. This is a natural result of wet sheets being stacked on top of each other during the drying process (set-off ink).

Rotary Press Printing

• Production Process: Continuous rolls of paper were fed through curved, cylindrical plates.
• Visual Characteristic: Because the plates were curved to fit the cylinder, the design itself stretched slightly during the impression process.
• Dimensional Differences: Rotary press stamps are noticeably longer or wider than their flat plate counterparts. For instance, standard flat plate frames measure roughly 18.5mm to 19mm wide by 22mm high, whereas rotary press variations expand to 19.5mm–20mm wide or up to 23mm high.

Offset Printing

• Production Process: Introduced during World War I due to a critical shortage of high-quality ink ingredients. The design was transferred from a plate to a rubber blanket, then onto the paper.
• Visual Characteristic: The image appears incredibly flat, lacks the distinct raised ink texture of engraving, and often looks blurry or grainy under magnification. George Washington’s eyebrows and hair details appear significantly less defined.

3. The Forensic Markers: Watermarks and Perforations

Once the design and press type are established, you must conduct forensic testing on the paper structure and the perforation gauge.

Watermark Identification

To find these, submerge the stamp face-down in a black watermark tray filled with specialized philatelic watermark fluid. The Washington-Franklin series utilized two distinct styles of the “USPS” (United States Postal Service) block letter watermark, along with unwatermarked paper:

• Double-Line Watermark (1908–1910): The outlines of the letters “U S P S” are formed by double parallel lines. These letters are large and frequently span across the borders of multiple adjacent stamps.
• Single-Line Watermark (1910–1916): The letters are constructed via a single, thin line. They are smaller and cleaner but can be exceptionally faint and difficult to spot without high-contrast lighting.
• Unwatermarked Paper (1916–1922): No structural thinning or lettering exists within the paper matrix.

Perforation Gauging

Perforations were adjusted frequently because early stamps tore too easily (Perf 12) or were too difficult to separate in post offices (Perf 10). You must use a standard philatelic perforation gauge to count the number of perforation holes within a 2-centimeter span:

• Standard Gauges: Look for Perf 12, Perf 10, and Perf 11.
• Compound Perforations: Some rare varieties feature different gauges horizontally and vertically, such as Perf 11 x 10 or Perf 10 x 11.
• Coil Stamps: Look for clean, straight, imperforate edges on two parallel sides (either top/bottom for horizontal coils or left/right for vertical coils).

4. High-Value Holy Grails: Rarity Analysis & Market Valuations

While hundreds of millions of these stamps are worth less than $1, specific production anomalies command astronomical figures at auction. The following table highlights the most sought-after rarities within the series:

5. Valuation Factors: Grading, Conditioning, and Expertization

If you discover a stamp that matches the technical profile of a high-value Washington-Franklin variety, its final market realization depends heavily on three critical factors:

• Centering and Margins: The Houdon portrait must be perfectly centered within the white margins. If the outer design touches or is cut off by the perforation holes, the value drops by 70% to 90%. “Superb 98” or “Gem 100” graded examples fetch massive premiums over catalog minimums.
• Condition of the Gum: For unused (Mint) examples, the original adhesive backing (Original Gum – OG) must be pristine. A stamp that is “Never Hinged” (NH) retains 100% of its value. Examples with hinge marks, remnants, or regummed backs face severe valuation penalties.
• The Imperative for Certification: Due to the prevalence of altered stamps (such as regular flat plate stamps having their perforations trimmed to pass as rare coils, or re-perforated edges), any high-value Washington-Franklin stamp must be sent to a recognized philatelic authority—such as the Philatelic Foundation (PF) or the Professional Stamp Experts (PSE)—for expertization and a formal certificate of authenticity. Without a certificate, knowledgeable collectors will not purchase these specific issues.