The 1847 5¢ Issue

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The 5¢ stamp exists in a vast number of shades. There are 25+ major shade classifications, and almost 100 more minor varieties listed under those, making these shades a truly fascinating part of 1847 collecting. Some shades are very hard to find while others are quite common.

The plate was put to press five times and the stamps from each printing are distinguishable by the characteristics of their impressions. Brown inks contained oxides of various metals, which could wear down the fine lines of the engraved plate through the several thousand impressions and repeated, inconsistent wiping of the plate after each impression. After the third printing, the plate’s condition was useless. It is generally accepted that the plate was acid etched before the fourth printing was printed to enhance the impression and to clean the dirty plate. The intention was to deepen the lines of the plate, thereby allowing them to hold more ink. However, the lines of the engraved plate were widened twice as much as they were deepened, since the acid ate away at the left and right sides simultaneously, and it ate away at the bottom. While this helped to strengthen medium to deep lines, it gave them a soft or fuzzy appearance. Many of the extremely fine lines completely disappeared from the stamps of the fourth and fifth printing. Additionally, it is believed that a few positions on the plate were re-entered after the fourth and/or fifth printing.

Plate varieties include six so-called double transfers, a “T” Crack, the dot in “S” and a few others. Cancellations are usually a red grid, town or manuscript; hence any other well-defined strikes are sought after.

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Helpful Links

The Swedish Tiger’s US Stamp Site An illustrated Guide
Siegel Encyclopedia – 1847 Issue
The 1847 Issue – A Brief Synopsis , by Calvet M. Hahn
An 1847 Cover to Think About, by Calvet M. Hahn
Certifiably Genuine? : Even The Experts Can—And Do—Change Their Minds, by Calvet M. Hahn
1847 Issue – Reexamining the Colors Part 1, by Calvet M. Hahn
1847 Issue – Reexamining the Colors Part 2, by Calvet M. Hahn
1847 Issue – Reexamining the Colors Part 3, by Calvet M. Hahn
1847 Issue – Reexamining the Colors Part 4, by Calvet M. Hahn
1847 Issue – Reexamining the Colors Part 5, by Calvet M. Hahn
1847 Issue – Reexamining the Colors Part 6, by Calvet M. Hahn
1847 Issue – Cross-Border Postal History Part 1, by Calvet M. Hahn
1847 Issue – Cross-Border Postal History Part 2, by Calvet M. Hahn
1847 Issue – Cross-Border Postal History Part 3, by Calvet M. Hahn

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