Everyday US stamps
1¢ Thomas Jefferson stamp value
Which 1¢ Jefferson do you have?
| Scott | Format | Issued | How to tell |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1278 | Sheet stamp, perf 11 x 10½, tagged | Jan. 12, 1968, Jeffersonville, Ind. | Perforated on all four sides |
| 1278a | Booklet pane of 8 | Jan. 12, 1968 | Straight edge on one or two sides; shiny and dull gum exist |
| 1278b | Booklet pane of 4 plus 2 labels | May 10, 1971 | Pane with two blank labels |
| 1299 | Coil, perf 10 vertically | Jan. 12, 1968 | Straight edges on two opposite sides |
| 1278c | Untagged, Bureau precancel | — | Precanceled by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing |
The one to check for
The untagged precancel and imperforate coils
Scott 1278c is untagged and was precanceled by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing for bulk mailers. Mystic lists it at $7.50, about 20 times the regular stamp. Tagging, an invisible coating that glows under ultraviolet light, is missing on several listed varieties, including 1278d (tagging omitted) and the untagged coil 1299a. On coils, also look for a pair with no perforations between the stamps, the listed error 1299b. Imperforates can be faked by trimming perforated stamps, so any imperforate needs a certificate before it is worth anything.
What your 1¢ Jefferson is most likely worth
Close to nothing beyond its face value. The American Philatelic Society says that "most U.S. stamps issued since 1940 sell today at or around their original face value," and the 1968 1¢ Jefferson is a textbook case. Mystic Stamp Company, one of the largest US dealers, lists both the sheet stamp (1278) and the coil (1299) at 35 cents each, and the 1278b booklet pane at $1.40.
Those are retail prices for a single sorted stamp. The APS also warns that you should "not expect to be able to sell your stamps for the listed values," so a dealer buying a pile of used 1¢ Jeffersons will pay a small fraction of that, if anything.
How to tell the versions apart
All the 1¢ Jeffersons share one design: designed by Robert Geissmann, with the portrait engraved by Edward R. Felver. They were printed by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing on the rotary press in green.
The differences are in format and finish. Sheet stamps are perforated on all four sides, booklet stamps have one or two straight edges, and coil stamps have straight edges on two opposite sides. Mystic notes that the issue exists in "a number of varieties due to gum, luminescence, precancels and perforations," which is why specialists collect it in depth even though single copies are cheap. Use the perforation gauge to confirm perf 11 x 10½ on sheet stamps and perf 10 on coils.
Don't confuse it with the green 1¢ Washingtons
Two other green 1¢ stamps turn up in the same shoeboxes and show George Washington, not Jefferson: the 1938 Presidential series 1¢ (Scott 804), printed in more than 25 billion copies, and the 1954 Liberty series 1¢ (Scott 1031). Read the name on the stamp. If you have the 1938 3¢ in purple, see the 3¢ Jefferson guide.
About the Prominent Americans series
The Prominent Americans series, issued from 1965 to 1978, honored people who played important roles in US history. According to Mystic, officials planned 18 subjects and later added seven more. The 1¢ Jefferson was issued in Jeffersonville, Indiana, on January 12, 1968, at the same time as the coil and the first booklet pane.
1¢ Thomas Jefferson stamp: questions collectors ask
How much is a 1968 1 cent Jefferson stamp worth?
A normal used or mint copy sells for around face value. Mystic Stamp Company lists it at 35 cents retail; a dealer buying in bulk pays far less. The untagged precancel (Scott 1278c) retails around $7.50.
Is the 1 cent Thomas Jefferson stamp rare?
No. Regular copies are very common. Only listed varieties, such as tagging-omitted stamps and imperforate coil pairs, are scarce.
What is the Scott number of the 1¢ Jefferson stamp?
Scott 1278 for the sheet stamp, 1278a and 1278b for the booklet panes, and 1299 for the coil.
How can I tell if my 1¢ Jefferson is tagged?
Under a shortwave ultraviolet lamp, tagged stamps glow; untagged ones stay dark. Normal 1968 copies are tagged, so an untagged one is worth checking against the listed varieties.
Sources & References
- 1278 - 1968 1c Prominent Americans: Thomas Jefferson - Mystic Stamp Company
- 1299 - 1968 1c Thomas Jefferson, Perf 10 Vertical - Mystic Stamp Company
- 1278b - 1c Thomas Jefferson booklet pane of 4 + 2 labels - Mystic Stamp Company
- 1278c - 1968 1c Thomas Jefferson, precancel - Mystic Stamp Company
- 1965–78 Prominent Americans identifier - StampSmarter (1847usa)
- 1938 Presidential series identifier - StampSmarter (1847usa)
- 1954 Liberty series identifier - StampSmarter (1847usa)
- Frequently Asked Questions - American Philatelic Society
A useful estimate, not a professional appraisal
Stamp values are estimates for general reference. Actual value depends on condition, centering, cancellations, gum, authenticity, provenance and current collector demand. For rare or potentially valuable stamps, consult a qualified philatelic expert or appraiser.
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