U.S. #1053
$5 Alexander Hamilton
Liberty Series
Issue Date: March 19, 1956
City: Paterson, NJ
Printed by: Bureau of Engraving and Printing
Printing Method: Flat Plate
Perforations: 11
Color: Black
The image of Alexander Hamilton on U.S. #1053 is based on a painting by John Trumbull. This stamp is generally considered one of the most beautiful U.S. portrait stamps of the 1900s. It was also one of the last U.S. stamps printed on the Flat Plate Press. Due to its high face value it was used primarily on registered mail, typically to mail money between small post offices and Federal Reserve Banks.
Alexander Hamilton (1757-1804)
Statesman
Once an impoverished immigrant orphan, Alexander Hamilton became George Washington’s most trusted aide, a lawyer, and the first Secretary of the Treasury. As Secretary of the Treasury, Hamilton established the first Bank of the United States and proposed the seagoing branch of the military that eventually became the U.S. Coast Guard. He also played a crucial role in the passage of the Naval Act of 1794, which led to the creation of the U.S. Navy.
Long-time acquaintances during the fight for independence, Hamilton and Vice President Aaron Burr later became bitter political rivals. When a Burr supporter insulted Hamilton’s father’s honor in 1801, 19-year-old Philip Hamilton challenged him to a duel. Philip Hamilton died of injuries he suffered during the duel, which was held in Weehawken, N.J. Three years later, Burr killed Alexander Hamilton in a duel in exactly the same location with the same pistol used to kill Hamilton’s son.
The Liberty Series
Issued to replace the 1938 Presidential series, this patriotic set of stamps honors guardians of freedom throughout U.S. history. Eighteenth century America is represented by Revolutionary War heroes and statesmen such as Washington, Jefferson, Franklin, Hamilton, Henry, Jay, and Revere.
Leaders of the 19th century including Monroe, Lincoln, Lee, Harrison, and Susan B. Anthony make an appearance. The 20th century is represented by Teddy Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson, and General Pershing.
The Liberty Series also features famous locations important to America’s democratic history, such as Bunker Hill, Independence Hall, and the Alamo.
“Wet” versus “Dry” Printing
The Bureau of Engraving and Printing began an experiment 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 U.S. postage stamps have been printed by this method since the late 1950s.
First Stamp Issued In Liberty Series
On April 9, 1954, the USPS introduced a new set of stamps, the Liberty Series, with the issue of an 8¢ red, white, and blue Statue of Liberty stamp.
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.
The Liberty Series would mark a significant departure from the Prexies. It would include “warm portraits” rather than “hard profile busts.” It would also make use of the work of a variety of artists and photographers. Additionally, presidents would only make up a small portion of the featured subjects (7 out of 25 denominations).
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.”
The Liberty Series was issued from 1954-61. It included definitive stamps with denominations ranging from 1/2¢ to $5. It would be the last 1/2¢ definitive stamp issued by the US. The patriotic set of stamps honored guardians of freedom throughout US history.
Eighteenth century America was represented by Revolutionary War heroes and statesmen such as Washington, Jefferson, Franklin, Hamilton, Henry, Jay, and Revere. Leaders of the 19th century including Monroe, Lincoln, Lee, Harrison, and Susan B. Anthony made an appearance. Teddy Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson, and General Pershing represented the 20th century. The Liberty Series also featured famous locations important to America’s democratic history, such as Bunker Hill, Independence Hall, and the Alamo.
US #1053 (Alexander Hamilton) is the key stamp in the series. Due to its high face value it was used primarily on registered mail, typically to mail money between small post offices and Federal Reserve Banks. It is relatively scarce in mint condition.
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.
The Liberty Series was generally replaced by the Prominent Americans Series beginning in 1965. However, the 2¢ Jefferson and 25¢ Revere coil stamps were reprinted many times and sold well into the ’80s.
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