1917 $5 Light Green Franklin (Flat Press, Scott #480)

The Scott #480 is a stamp that commands respect. Issued on March 22, 1917, this $5 light green stamp features a portrait of John Marshall, the fourth Chief Justice of the United States, and represents the highest denomination in the 1916-1917 Washington-Franklin series. With only 217,167 stamps printed using the flat plate method, on unwatermarked paper, with perforation gauge 10, the Scott #480 is one of the scarcer high-value definitive stamps of the early 20th century.

A note on the title: while this stamp is sometimes informally called a "Franklin" due to its membership in the Washington-Franklin series, the $5 denomination actually depicts John Marshall. Benjamin Franklin appears on other denominations in the series. The "Washington-Franklin" name refers to the overall series, which features various American statesmen across its different values.

Why This Stamp Matters

The Washington-Franklin series (1908 to 1922) is one of the most complex and rewarding areas in all of United States philately. The series went through numerous variations in paper type, watermark, perforation gauge, and printing method, creating a rich matrix of collectible varieties that has fascinated philatelists for over a century.

The Scott #480 occupies a special place within this matrix. It is the highest denomination in the 1916-1917 unwatermarked, perf 10 subset (Scott #462-480), a group that resulted from the Post Office Department's decision to abandon watermarked paper for stamp production. This change created an entirely new set of varieties for collectors, and the $5 value, with its limited print run, became one of the key stamps in the series.

The timing of issue is also significant. March 1917 was just weeks before the United States entered World War I (April 6, 1917). The demand for high-denomination stamps was driven in part by the increasing volume of registered mail, insured parcels, and special delivery services that the war would intensify.

Technical Specifications

Understanding the technical details is essential for proper identification:

Scott Number: 480

Denomination: $5.00

Design: Portrait of John Marshall (1755-1835), Chief Justice of the Supreme Court from 1801 to 1835

Color: Light green

Printing Method: Flat plate (as opposed to rotary press, which came later in the series)

Paper: Unwatermarked (no watermark visible when held to light)

Perforation: Gauge 10 (10 perforation holes per 2 centimeters along each edge)

Issue Date: March 22, 1917

Quantity Printed: 217,167

Printer: Bureau of Engraving and Printing, Washington, D.C.

Identification and Authentication

Correct identification of the Scott #480 requires distinguishing it from similar stamps in the Washington-Franklin series:

Scott #480 vs. Scott #524: Both are $5 John Marshall stamps in green, but #524 (issued 1918) is perforated 11 and printed on unwatermarked paper. The key difference is the perforation gauge. Measure carefully with a perforation gauge tool: #480 is perf 10, #524 is perf 11.

Scott #480 vs. Scott #313: The earlier #313 (1903) is also a $5 Marshall in green, but it is watermarked with the USPS double-line watermark and perforated 12. Paper examination under backlighting reveals the watermark (or lack thereof for #480).

Color Verification: The light green of #480 should be distinguished from the deep green of #524. Color can shift with age, exposure to light, and chemical interaction, so comparison with known genuine examples or color reference charts is advisable.

Flat Plate Characteristics: Flat plate stamps have design dimensions of approximately 19mm x 22mm (the actual image area). Rotary press stamps are slightly taller or wider due to the curved printing surface.

Expertization: For a stamp of this value, professional expertization from organizations like the Philatelic Foundation (PF) or the American Philatelic Expertizing Service (APEX) is strongly recommended. A certificate from one of these bodies confirming the stamp's identity adds significant confidence and value.

Condition Grading for Stamps

Stamp condition is assessed across several factors: centering, gum (for unused stamps), cancellation (for used stamps), and overall freshness.

Superb (98): Perfectly centered with equal margins on all sides. Original gum is never hinged (for mint). Colors are vivid. No faults of any kind. For a stamp from 1917, this grade is exceptionally rare.

Extremely Fine (95): Virtually perfect centering with margins just slightly unequal. Original gum intact. No faults.

Very Fine (85): Well-centered with margins noticeably wider on one or two sides but design is well clear of perforations on all sides. Original gum may have hinge remnant.

Fine-Very Fine (80): Slightly off-center but still attractive. Perforations do not touch the design. Typical for stamps of this era.

Fine (70): Off-center, with perforations closer to the design on one or two sides but not cutting into it. Acceptable for most collections.

Very Good (60): Noticeably off-center. Perforations may just touch the design on one side. Below average centering for this issue.

Straight Edges: Many stamps from this era were cut from sheet margins and have one or two straight (unperforated) edges. Straight-edge copies are valued at roughly 50 to 75 percent of fully perforated examples.

Current Market Values

Values for Scott #480 vary dramatically based on condition and gum status:

Condition	Mint (NH)	Mint (Hinged)	Used
Superb (98)	$2,000 - $3,500	$1,200 - $2,000	$800 - $1,500
Extremely Fine (95)	$1,200 - $2,000	$700 - $1,200	$400 - $800
Very Fine (85)	$600 - $1,000	$350 - $600	$175 - $350
Fine-Very Fine (80)	$350 - $600	$200 - $350	$100 - $200
Fine (70)	$200 - $350	$120 - $200	$50 - $120
Very Good (60)	$120 - $200	$70 - $120	$30 - $70
Straight Edge (Fine)	$100 - $175	$60 - $100	$25 - $50

NH (Never Hinged) carries a substantial premium because collectors of mint stamps prize undisturbed original gum. For used copies, light circular date cancellations are preferred over heavy machine cancels or pen cancels.

What to Look for When Buying

Get expertization. For any copy priced above a few hundred dollars, a certificate from the Philatelic Foundation or APEX is essential. The cost of expertization (typically $25 to $50) is minimal compared to the stamp's value.

Check for faults. Common faults include thins (areas where paper has been partially scraped away, often from hinge removal), tears (even tiny ones along perforations), stains, creases, and regumming (application of new gum to make a hinged stamp appear never hinged). Examine the stamp under magnification and in watermark fluid.

Measure the perforations. The difference between perf 10 (#480) and perf 11 (#524) is the difference between two distinct stamps with different values. Always measure with a reliable perforation gauge.

Examine the paper. Hold the stamp up to strong light to confirm the absence of a watermark. Any visible watermark means you are looking at a different stamp from an earlier series.

Assess centering honestly. Centering is the single biggest factor in grading after the stamp is confirmed genuine and fault-free. Well-centered copies of #480 are uncommon due to the printing technology of the era.

Consider plate blocks. Plate blocks (corner blocks of stamps with the plate number in the selvage) are significantly more valuable than singles. A mint plate block of Scott #480 can be worth several times the value of four individual stamps.

The Scott #480 is a quiet powerhouse of American philately. It does not have the headline-grabbing rarity of an Inverted Jenny or a 1c Z-Grill, but it offers the serious collector a genuinely scarce, high-denomination stamp from one of the most studied series in the hobby. For Washington-Franklin specialists and general U.S. collectors alike, it is a stamp that earns its place in the album.

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