# 1051 - 1955 Liberty Series - 50¢ Susan B. Anthony
50¢ Susan B. Anthony
Liberty Series
City: Louisville, KY
Printed by: Bureau of Engraving and Printing
Printing Method: Rotary Press
Perforations: 11 x 10½
Color: Bright purple
Women’s Rights Pioneer
First Stamp Issued In Liberty Series
The Liberty Series was first announced in late 1953, as a replacement for the popular Presidential Series (also known as the Prexies), which had been in use for 15 years. The new series took its name from the first stamp to be issued, picturing the Statue of Liberty.
Plus, the Liberty Series was only planned to utilize 18 different denominations, whereas the Prexies had 32. It turned out that many of the Presidential denominations were rarely used. So the new series would ensure that no more than two stamps would be needed to pay 60¢ in postage and no more than three for up to $1.60.
The first stamp in the Liberty Series was issued on April 9, 1954. President Dwight D. Eisenhower presided over a special televised ceremony debuting the stamp, which was the first to include the motto, “In God We Trust.”
These stamps were also part of a Bureau of Engraving and Printing experiment that began in 1954. In previous “wet” printings, the paper had a moisture content of 15 to 35 percent. In the experimental “dry” printings, the paper had a moisture content of 5 to 10 percent. This process required stiffer, thicker paper, special inks, and greater pressure to force the paper through the plates.
Stamps produced by dry printing can be distinguished by whiter paper and higher surface sheen. The stamps feel thicker and the designs are more pronounced than on wet printings. So the dry printing experiment was a success, and all US postage stamps have been printed by this method since the late 1950s.
50¢ Susan B. Anthony
Liberty Series
City: Louisville, KY
Printed by: Bureau of Engraving and Printing
Printing Method: Rotary Press
Perforations: 11 x 10½
Color: Bright purple
Women’s Rights Pioneer
First Stamp Issued In Liberty Series
The Liberty Series was first announced in late 1953, as a replacement for the popular Presidential Series (also known as the Prexies), which had been in use for 15 years. The new series took its name from the first stamp to be issued, picturing the Statue of Liberty.
Plus, the Liberty Series was only planned to utilize 18 different denominations, whereas the Prexies had 32. It turned out that many of the Presidential denominations were rarely used. So the new series would ensure that no more than two stamps would be needed to pay 60¢ in postage and no more than three for up to $1.60.
The first stamp in the Liberty Series was issued on April 9, 1954. President Dwight D. Eisenhower presided over a special televised ceremony debuting the stamp, which was the first to include the motto, “In God We Trust.”
These stamps were also part of a Bureau of Engraving and Printing experiment that began in 1954. In previous “wet” printings, the paper had a moisture content of 15 to 35 percent. In the experimental “dry” printings, the paper had a moisture content of 5 to 10 percent. This process required stiffer, thicker paper, special inks, and greater pressure to force the paper through the plates.
Stamps produced by dry printing can be distinguished by whiter paper and higher surface sheen. The stamps feel thicker and the designs are more pronounced than on wet printings. So the dry printing experiment was a success, and all US postage stamps have been printed by this method since the late 1950s.