1923 2c Washington horiz pr imperf vert

U.S. #554a Horizontal Imperf Pair
Series of 1922-25 2¢ Washington
Flat Plate Printing

Issue Date: January 15, 1923
First City: Washington, DC
Quantity Issued: 21,681,541,977
Printed by: Bureau of Engraving and Printing
Printing Method: Flat plate
Perforation: 11 gauge
Color: Carmine

This stamp features an image of George Washington on a definitive stamp with the first class mailing rate. The portrait on the die from the 1908 stamp was used for this issue as well.

The Series of 1922-25
and the Wheels of Progress

In 1847, when the printing presses first began to move, they didn’t roll – they “stamped” in a process known as flat plate printing. The Regular Series of 1922 was the last to be printed by flat plate press, after which stamps were produced by rotary press printing.

By 1926, all denominations up to 10¢ – except the new ½¢ – were printed by rotary press. For a while, $1 to $5 issues were done on flat plate press due to smaller demand.