U.S. #498b Imperforate Pair
1917-19 1¢ Washington
U.S. #498 is the first stamps in the Series of 1917-1919 to be perforated 11 and issued on unwatermarked paper. It remained current for six years and was produced in large quantities. No exact records were kept by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing because they didn’t consider a change in watermark or perforation to be a separate stamp issue like collectors do.
Flat Plate, Perf. 11
The Bureau continued to use the 10 gauge perforation machines on flat plate stamp sheet even after 11 perf. stamps proved successful. In an effort to save money, they used the perf. 10 wheels until they wore out. Beginning in early 1917, stamps produced on flat plate presses were given 11 gauge perfs.
That marked the beginning of the flat plate perforated 11 Series of 1917-19 stamps. Perf. 12 had proven too flimsy, and perf. 10 was too difficult to separate without damaging the stamp, so perf. 11 became a satisfactory solution.
1¢ Washington, issued to satisfy the post card rate
Issue Date: March 1917
Category: Definitive
Printed By: Bureau of Engraving and Printing
Printing Method: Flat Plate, using plates of 400 with four panes of 100
Watermark: None
Perforations: 11
Color: Green
Water-activated Gum