# 707 - 1932 Washington Bicentennial: 2c Washington by Gilbert Stuart
1932 2¢ Washington
Washington Bicentennial Issue
First City: Washington, DC
Quantity Issued: 4,222,198,300
Printed by: Bureau of Engraving and Printing
Printing Method: Rotary Press
Perforation: 11 x 10.5
Color: Carmine rose
U.S. #707 features an image of George Washington taken from a painting by Gilbert Stuart. Stuart, a master portrait artist, made numerous paintings of Washington, with this one being the most famous. Called The Athenaeum, it was painted in 1796 in Germantown, Pennsylvania – but never finished. However, it served as the model of other paintings, and was also used on the one-dollar bill.
Washington Bicentennial
On January 1, 1932, the US Post Office Department issued a set of 12 stamps honoring the 200th anniversary of George Washington’s birth.
The Post Office officially announced their plans for the set of stamps in November 1930. Early on, they had grand ideas for the set.
The Post Office conducted an emergency reprinting of the 3¢ Washington Bicentennial stamp as well as the current 3¢ Lincoln regular issue. But there still weren’t enough of the stamps to satisfy demand. And the Post Office knew that the portrait on the 3¢ stamp was little known to most people. So they decided to rework the 2¢ Athenaeum design. They made it a 3¢ stamp and removed the date ribbons next to the portrait, so it would essentially be a regular issue.
1932 2¢ Washington
Washington Bicentennial Issue
First City: Washington, DC
Quantity Issued: 4,222,198,300
Printed by: Bureau of Engraving and Printing
Printing Method: Rotary Press
Perforation: 11 x 10.5
Color: Carmine rose
U.S. #707 features an image of George Washington taken from a painting by Gilbert Stuart. Stuart, a master portrait artist, made numerous paintings of Washington, with this one being the most famous. Called The Athenaeum, it was painted in 1796 in Germantown, Pennsylvania – but never finished. However, it served as the model of other paintings, and was also used on the one-dollar bill.
Washington Bicentennial
On January 1, 1932, the US Post Office Department issued a set of 12 stamps honoring the 200th anniversary of George Washington’s birth.
The Post Office officially announced their plans for the set of stamps in November 1930. Early on, they had grand ideas for the set.
The Post Office conducted an emergency reprinting of the 3¢ Washington Bicentennial stamp as well as the current 3¢ Lincoln regular issue. But there still weren’t enough of the stamps to satisfy demand. And the Post Office knew that the portrait on the 3¢ stamp was little known to most people. So they decided to rework the 2¢ Athenaeum design. They made it a 3¢ stamp and removed the date ribbons next to the portrait, so it would essentially be a regular issue.