George Washington - Brown - Single Line Watermark - Horizontal Imperforate - Perf 8 1/2

First release in 1908: the first release of this series of postage stamps, issued between 1908 and 1909, was intended to replace the previous regular issue of adhesive stamps, known as the 'Series of 1902'. The stamps maintained a consistent design for artistic effect, featuring the head of Washington, a profile from Houdon's bust, on all denominations except the 1-cent stamp, which depicts Franklin. The borders are identical across all stamps, with the head placed within an ellipse framed by laurel leaves, and inscriptions of 'U.S. postage' above and the denomination below, either in words or numerals depending on the value. The series notably excluded the $2 and $5 denominations due to decreased demand for high-value stamps following changes in international postal rates.

Second release in 1912: the postage stamps of the 1908 issue, while possessing high artistic merit, have given considerable trouble to the public and to the Postal Service on account of the similarity of designs of the different denominations. All of the 12 stamps are of identical design, except that the 1-cent denomination bears the portrait of Franklin, while the others bear the portrait of Washington. There was not a sufficient number of distinctive colors for all the stamps, making it necessary above the 6-cent to use different shades of the same colors given the lower denominations. Thus, the 1-cent and 8-cent are different shades of green; the 3-cent and 50-cent are different shades of purple; the 5-cent and 15-cent are different shades of blue. In the rapid handling of mail matter one denomination was very apt to be mistaken for another, particularly under artificial light. The first six stamps are of sufficiently contrasting colors, but it was decided to change the subject of the 1-cent from Franklin to Washington and to change the 1-cent and 2-cent so as to express the denomination in numerals instead of in words, thus conforming to the other stamps of the series. No change was made in the 3-, 4-, 5-, or 6-cent stamps from those of the 1908 issue, but to give more marked contrast to the remaining five denominations (the 13-cent stamp having been discontinued) a change was made in the border design. The stamps of the 1912 issue combine utility with art and harmony, presenting the head of the first President on the first six denominations and that of the first Postmaster General, with a different border design, on the last five.

Third release in 1914: The discontinuance of distinctive parcel-post stamps made it necessary to issue five new denominations of ordinary stamps to take their place. The new stamps are of the same shape (a rectangle on end) and size (about 7/8 by 23/32 inch) as the other ordinary stamps, series of 1912. The 7-cent stamp bears the head of Washington in profile, from Houdon's bust, looking to the left. The border design is the same as that of the first six denominations of the current series. The 9-cent, 12-cent, 20-cent, and 30-cent stamps bear the head of Franklin in profile, from Houdon's bust, looking to the left. These four denominations have the same border design as the current 8-cent to $1 stamps. In addition to its use on parcels, the new 12-cent stamp was convenient for prepayment of registration or special-delivery fee with a single rate of letter postage.

Fourth release in 1915: A new postage stamp of 11-cent denomination was issued August 9, 1915. This new stamp was issued primarily for use in prepaying postage on parcels, and postage and insurance fee on insured parcels, amounting to 11 cents, and it makes the series of denominations complete from 1 cent to 12 cents.

Fourth release in 1919: A new postage stamp of 13-cent denomination was issued January 10, 1919. The new stamp was issued primarily for use in prepaying a single rate of letter postage and special-delivery fee, or for postage and registry fee, and was also available to the amount of its value for other purposes for which ordinary postage stamps are used.