USA stamp year 1851 12c Washington Used

80,00 €

USA stamp year 1851 12c – Sc #17 Washington ☀ Used

USA stamp year 1851 12c Washington Used

The 1851 12 Cent George Washington stamp is part of the first definitive series of U.S. stamps issued after the 1847 issue was demonetized, and it holds significant historical and philatelic value.

🇺🇸 Details of the 1851 12c Washington (Scott #17)

Catalogue Number: Scott #17
Year of Issue: 1851 (Issued July 1, 1851)
Denomination: 12 Cent (12c)
Subject: George Washington (portrait based on an engraving by Alfred Jones from the bust by Jean-Antoine Houdon).
Color: Gray Black or Black.
Key Characteristic: Imperforate (issued without perforations, meaning stamps had to be cut apart with scissors).
Purpose: Primarily used to pay the rate for heavier domestic letters or letters sent to foreign destinations, notably to England via the American Packet.

💰 Value is Determined by Margins and Condition

Like all imperforate stamps, the value of the 12c Washington stamp is most dependent on its margins (how much white space is left around the design after it was cut from the sheet).

Condition & Margin Quality	Catalogue Value (Scott)	Estimated Market Price Range
Used, Poor/Touching Margins	~$100 – $300	$50 – $150 (Low-end examples)
Used, Four Clear Margins (Fine)	$350 – $915	$250 – $600 (Desirable collector’s copy)
Unused/Mint (Hinged, Fine)	$1,900 – $3,000	$500 – $1,500
Unused/Mint (Never Hinged, VF)	$4,500+	$2,500 – $5,000+ (A rarity in this condition)

⚠️ Critical Note on Margins

The design must not be cut into (i.e., it must have four full margins) to achieve a premium price. A “Very Fine” (VF) used copy with four wide margins and a light cancellation is highly sought after.

Identifying Potential Rarities

While the 12c stamp doesn’t have the “Types” (varieties in the frame lines) that the 1c and 3c stamps from the same series have, there are extremely rare variations that are highly valuable:

Printed on Both Sides: A few examples are known to be printed on both the front and the back due to a printing error. These are extremely rare and demand top prices.
Bisect on Cover: A stamp cut in half (bisected) and used as 6c postage is highly collectible, but only if it is tied to an original cover (envelope) by a postmark and typically requires a certificate of authenticity.

To get an accurate valuation, especially for a mint copy, you would need to have the stamp certified by an expert service like the Philatelic Foundation (PF) or Professional Stamp Experts (PSE).