George Washington - Red - Gilbert Stuart - 1796

The stamp is printed in red and is inclosed in a narrow white-line border with small ornaments resembling fleurs-de-lis in each upper corner. Beginning slightly above the center on either side and reaching the top is a semicircular panel with the words "United States postage" in white Roman on a solid background. The ends of the panel are supported by acanthus scrolls rising from upright ovals in each lower corner. Within these ovals with white edges is the Roman numeral "2" in white on a solid background. At the base of the stamp between the ovals is a white bordered panel with the word "Cents" in white Roman letters on a solid background. In the center of the stamp with a dark background is the likeness of Washington by Gilbert Stuart from a painting made at Germantown, Pa., in 1796, known as the Athenæum portrait, the original of which is now in the Boston Museum of Fine Arts. On a white ribbon below the portrait is the name "Washington" in dark Roman lettering. On the raised ends of the ribbon are the dates "1732" at the left and "1932" at the right.

In cooperation with the national celebration of the two hundredth anniversary of the birth of George Washington, the Department authorized a special series of 12 postage stamps in denominations of ½ cent to 10 cents, inclusive, to be kept on sale in post offices throughout the anniversary period in lieu of the regular series of stamps.

The stamps are of regulation size, 0.75 by 0.87 inch in dimension, arranged vertically, and have as the central designs portraits of Washington modeled from the works of noted artists