Francobolli celebri
Francobolli di Washington e Franklin: quanto vale il tuo
Aggiornato il · 5 min di lettura · A cura del team StampGo
Risposta rapida
La maggior parte dei francobolli di George Washington e Benjamin Franklin vale da pochi centesimi a pochi dollari, perché erano francobolli statunitensi d'uso quotidiano stampati a miliardi. Alcuni valgono centinaia o più: le emissioni dell'Ottocento e le varietà rare della serie Washington-Franklin dal 1908 al 1922, che differiscono solo per dentellatura, filigrana e metodo di stampa. StampGo riconosce l'emissione da una foto.
In breve
- Perché sono ovunque
- Washington e Franklin compaiono sui francobolli USA fin dalla prima emissione del 1847
- La serie insidiosa
- Le teste Washington-Franklin (1908–1922): circa 250 francobolli diversi
- Cosa separa le varietà
- Dentellatura, filigrana, stampa piana o rotativa, e carta
- Valori bassi quotidiani
- Il 1 cent verde e il 2 cent rosso, stampati a miliardi
- I più preziosi
- Combinazioni rare di dentellatura e filigrana, francobolli in bobina, errori ed emissioni antiche
- Strumenti necessari
- Odontometro, vaschetta per filigrane, righello millimetrato
How much is a George Washington stamp worth?
Most George Washington stamps are worth a few cents to a dollar. Washington appeared on the most common US stamps for over a century, so the value depends on the exact issue, variety and condition, not the portrait.
| Stamp | Typical value |
|---|---|
| Common 20th-century Washington stamps (1¢–3¢), used | A few cents |
| Washington-Franklin Heads (1908–1922), common varieties | Cents to a few dollars |
| Washington-Franklin Heads, scarce perforation or watermark varieties | Tens to hundreds of dollars, sometimes more |
| 19th-century Washington issues (1847–1890s) | Dollars to thousands, depending on the issue and condition |
| The 1932 Washington Bicentennial set | Mostly common |
The red 2¢ Washington, the letter-rate stamp for decades, is the classic example. Billions were used, so most are worth a few cents, but certain varieties printed on the wrong paper, perforated differently or from a different press are worth far more.
How much is a Benjamin Franklin stamp worth?
Most Franklin stamps are common too, but early Franklin issues can be valuable. The 1847 5¢ Franklin was one of the first two US stamps, and the 1¢ Franklins of the 1850s–60s are worth checking.
Franklin, the first Postmaster General, has appeared on US stamps since 1847. The 1¢ blue Franklin of 1851–1861 comes in several types that specialists separate by tiny design differences, and the 1861–1866 1¢ Franklin in StampGo's own screenshots carries a $15–$75 reference range. In the Washington-Franklin series, Franklin appears on the 1908 1¢ and, from 1912, on the higher values.
The rarest of all is the 1868 1¢ Franklin “Z Grill”, with only two known. It's one of the most valuable US stamps. See US stamp values.
Why is the Washington-Franklin series so hard to identify?
About 250 different stamps share a handful of designs. They were printed between 1908 and 1922 with different perforations, watermarks, papers and presses, and some combinations are far scarcer than others.
- Perforation gauge: perf 12, 10, 8½ or compound gauges such as 12 × 10, plus imperforate and coil stamps.
- Watermark: a double-line “USPS”, a single-line “USPS”, or none.
- Printing method: flat-plate and rotary-press stamps of the same design differ slightly in size.
- Paper: most were printed on ordinary paper, but some were printed on bluish or other unusual papers.
How do I identify my Washington or Franklin stamp?
Start with the denomination, color and design to find the issue, then measure the perforation gauge, check the watermark and measure the size to pin down the exact variety.
A photo gets you to the issue. For Washington-Franklins, the rest needs a perforation gauge, a watermark tray and a millimeter ruler. Our guide to how to identify stamps explains each tool.
Are 1 cent and 2 cent Washington stamps worth anything?
Usually only a few cents, because they were printed in the billions to pay everyday postage. The exceptions are scarce varieties and unused, well-centered copies of early issues.
Condition matters a lot for the better varieties, so check centering and gum before you compare prices. See stamp condition grades.
What's the difference between flat-plate and rotary-press stamps?
They're the same designs printed on different presses. Rotary-press stamps were printed from curved plates, which stretched the image slightly, so they're a fraction of a millimeter taller or wider than flat-plate stamps of the same design.
Rotary presses were first used for coil stamps in the mid-1910s and later for sheet stamps. To tell the two apart, measure the printed design with a millimeter ruler and compare it with a catalogue's dimensions. Many rotary-press stamps from the 1920s onward also show faint ridges on the back from gum breakers, which were used to stop the sheets curling.
It matters because some Washington-Franklin values are common in one printing and scarce in the other, even with the same perforation and watermark. That's why careful collectors check all three: perforation, watermark and press.
Passo dopo passo
How to check a Washington or Franklin stamp with StampGo
StampGo narrows down which Washington or Franklin issue you have from a photo, so you know whether it's worth getting out the perforation gauge.
- 1
Scan the stamp
Tap Scan Now and photograph the stamp flat, with all four edges visible.
- 2
See the issue and price range
StampGo names the issue, such as the “1-Cent Benjamin Franklin, 1857 Perforated Issue”, with its year and a reference price.
- 3
Check varieties if it's promising
If the rarity score or price range is high, measure the perforations and check the watermark to pin down the exact variety.
- 4
Save it to your collection
Add it to your collection. The app's screenshots show a 1¢ George Washington at $0.25–$2.00, which is typical for a common issue.
Download gratuito per iOS e Android
Domande frequenti
Quanto vale un francobollo rosso di George Washington?
La maggior parte dei 2 cent rossi di Washington dal 1890 al 1930 vale pochi centesimi da usata. Alcune varietà della serie dal 1908 al 1922, riconoscibili da dentellatura e filigrana, valgono molto di più.
Qual è il francobollo di Benjamin Franklin più prezioso?
Il 1 cent Franklin Z Grill del 1868, di cui si conoscono solo due esemplari, è tra i francobolli statunitensi più preziosi.
Qual è il francobollo di George Washington più prezioso?
Le rare emissioni antiche di Washington e le varietà rare Washington-Franklin, come certe bobine e varietà di dentellatura, spuntano i prezzi più alti. A decidere il valore sono la varietà esatta e lo stato.
Serve un odontometro per i francobolli Washington-Franklin?
Sì, per tutto ciò che va oltre la prima identificazione. Dentellatura, filigrana e metodo di stampa sono esattamente ciò che separa un Washington-Franklin comune da uno raro.
Perché ci sono così tante varietà Washington-Franklin?
Nei 14 anni della serie, il Bureau of Engraving and Printing cambiò carte, filigrane, macchine dentellatrici e presse man mano che si ammodernava. Ogni cambiamento creò nuove varietà degli stessi disegni.
