2c Carmine, Booklet Pane of Six (301c). Position D with plate no. 1664 at top right, bright color, neat strikes of New York oval registry cancel, attractive centering and margins, some reinforced perf separations

FINE-VERY FINE AND RARE USED BOOKLET PANE OF THE 2-CENT 1902 WASHINGTON -- OF EVEN GREATER RARITY WITH THE PLATE NUMBER SELVAGE.

According to Johl, the proofs of this stamp were considered masterpieces, but when the stamp was issued in red using the wet paper printing method it was widely criticized. Washington's nose was excessively red and the details of the design were lost. The New York Times wrote that "if not labelled Washington it could be taken for Adams, Madison or Monroe". Faced with such criticism the Post Office Department rushed a replacement stamp into use -- the 2c Shield issue (Scott 319 and 320) -- less than nine months later.

Our census of used Scott 301c, available at http://siegelauctions.com/dynamic/census/301c/301c.pdf , includes six with full tabs and an additional four without tabs (three are on cover). Of the examples with tabs, four have the plate no.

Census No. 301c-CAN-05.

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