The public complained that the original 1966 engraving made Washington look unshaven, so the Post Office redrew it, lightening the facial shading, and issued this corrected version in 1967.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

• Catalog Number: Scott #1283B

• Denomination: 5 cents (5¢)

• Date of Issue: November 17, 1967

• Printing Method: Rotary Press, Engraved (Intaglio)

• Perforation: 11 × 10½

• Color: Blue

• Subject: Redrawn portrait of George Washington, after Rembrandt Peale's 1823 "Porthole" painting

CONDITION ANALYSIS (Seller-Assessed)

• Status: Used

• Grading: Very Fine

• Postmark: Minimal, falling cleanly without obscuring the portrait or principal design elements.

• Obverse: Engraving is crisp and clear. The lightened facial shading characteristic of the 1283B redrawn variety is visible and well-defined.

• Reverse: Paper appears sound and clean. No signs of thinning, tears, or significant flaws.

• Centering / Margins: Excellent, with perforations clear of the design frame on all sides.

• Perforations: Intact on all four sides. No visible tears, creases, or missing perforations observed.

HISTORY

Scott #1283B has one of the more unusual origin stories in mid-century American philately. When the original 5¢ George Washington stamp from the Prominent Americans Series was issued in 1966 as Scott #1283, public response included complaints that the dense engraved shading on Washington's face gave him an unkempt, unshaven appearance. The Post Office Department responded by commissioning a redrawn version with reduced line density on the cheeks, jaw, and neck - producing a noticeably cleaner facial rendering. The revised stamp was issued November 17, 1967 as Scott #1283B.

The two versions are distinguishable by examining the portrait closely. The original 1283 shows heavier cross-hatching in the facial areas; the redrawn 1283B carries lighter, more open shading. For collectors of the Prominent Americans Series, distinguishing between the two is a standard identification task and a recognized variety in the catalog.

The portrait itself is based on Rembrandt Peale's 1823 "Porthole" painting of Washington, one of the most widely reproduced images of the first president in American history. Peale painted it from memory and earlier studies rather than from life, but the composition proved enduringly popular — it had already appeared on U.S. currency by the time it was adapted for this stamp.

STEVEN SAYS

The public complained Washington looked like he needed a shave, so they redrew the engraving. That's a real story. Hold the two versions side by side sometime, the difference in the facial shading is subtle but once you see it, it's clear.