You probably found a little green stamp in an old envelope or a dusty album. It's got Benjamin Franklin’s face on it, looking all stoic and colonial. Your first thought? "This has to be worth thousands."
Honestly, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but it probably isn't. Most of these stamps were printed by the billions. They’re common. Like, "use it to wallpaper your bathroom" common. But—and this is a big but—there are a few versions that actually are the "holy grail" of American philately. We're talking house-payment money.
Benjamin Franklin was the first Postmaster General, so he’s basically the patron saint of the USPS. That’s why his face is on everything from the very first 1847 issue to the mass-produced 1-cent stamps of the 1920s.
What Really Matters With US Stamps Benjamin Franklin
If you want to know if you've struck gold, you have to look past the face. It’s all about the "hidden" technical specs. Collectors don't just look at the picture; they look at how the paper was fed into the machine and how the holes were punched.
The 1847 Original: US #1
The very first official US postage stamp, issued July 1, 1847, featured Franklin. It was a 5-cent red-brown stamp. If you have one of these, you’re looking at something special. Back then, they didn't have perforation machines. Clerks literally cut them out of sheets with scissors.
Because of that, "margins" are everything. A stamp with wide, even space around the design is worth way more than one where the scissors clipped the edge of Ben’s hair. A used copy might net you $500, but a pristine one can go for thousands.
The "Z Grill" Mystery
The 1-cent blue Franklin from 1868 is famous for something called a "grill." This was basically a pattern of tiny indentations pressed into the paper to help the ink of the cancellation mark soak in. This prevented people from washing off the ink and reusing the stamp—a common scam back in the day.
The "Z Grill" is the rarest version. There are only two known copies in existence. One is in the New York Public Library, and the other belongs to billionaire Bill Gross. It’s worth millions. If you find a third one, you’re retiring tomorrow.
Identification: Sorting Trash From Treasure
Most people get tripped up on the 1-cent green Franklins from the early 1900s. They all look identical at first glance. You’ve got to check three things:
- Perforations: Count the number of holes (perfs) in a 2-centimeter span. A "Perf 11" is different from a "Perf 10."
- Watermarks: Hold the stamp up to a light or dip it in watermark fluid. Sometimes you’ll see "USPS" in the paper fiber.
- Printing Method: Flat plate vs. Rotary press. Rotary press stamps are slightly stretched because the plate was curved.
The Scott 594 and 596
These are the ones that keep collectors awake at night. They are "coil waste" stamps. Basically, the Bureau of Engraving and Printing had leftover scraps of paper from long rolls (coils) and decided to turn them into regular sheets to save money.
The Scott 596 is a 1-cent green Franklin that was perforated 11 on all sides but printed on a rotary press. It’s a fraction of a millimeter larger than the common version. That tiny stretch makes it worth over $150,000.
Why Ben Is Everywhere
Franklin wasn't just a founder; he was a postal innovator. Before him, mail was chaotic. He standardized rates and surveyed routes personally. He even used an early odometer on his carriage to measure distances.
💡 You might also like: The Cash Option on Mega Millions: Why Most Winners Take the Haircut
When the 1908 Washington-Franklin series came out, it stayed in use for nearly 15 years. This created hundreds of minor varieties. Some have "olive branches" in the design; others have "oak leaves." Some say "ONE CENT" in letters, while others use the numeral "1."
It’s a rabbit hole.
Experts like Ken Lawrence from Linn’s Stamp News have spent decades teaching people how to measure these things. Don't trust your eyes alone. You need a precision gauge. A 0.25mm difference is the gap between a 25-cent stamp and a six-figure auction item.
Actionable Steps for Your Collection
If you’ve got a pile of US stamps Benjamin Franklin and want to be serious about it, don't just guess.
First, get a Scott Specialized Catalogue. Even an older edition is fine for identifying types. Second, buy a perforation gauge. It’s a cheap plastic tool that will save you hours of squinting.
Check for a "grill" on the back of any 1860s-era stamps. It looks like a waffle pattern. If the pattern is horizontal and covers most of the back, you’re getting warmer.
Finally, never lick an old stamp. The gum on the back (if it's still there) is part of the value. Hinged stamps—those that were taped into albums—lose value instantly. If you think you have a rarity, get it "certed" by the Philatelic Foundation or the APS (American Philatelic Society). Without a certificate of authenticity, a "rare" stamp is just a piece of paper.
Stop looking for a "rare" color and start looking for a rare "size." That's where the real money is hiding.