George Washington - Warm Brown - Charles Peale Polk

The stamp is printed in warm brown and has a narrow rectangular border indented at the sides and ends. Across the top of the stamp in a narrow double-curved, white-edged panel are the words "United States postage" in two lines in white Roman letters on solid background. The panel is widened at the center to accommodate the last word, and the ends of the widened portion are supported by acanthus scrolls which rise from each side of the large oval occupying the central part of the stamp. Within the large oval is the likeness of Washington taken from a painting by Charles Peale Polk, now in the possession of Mr. William Patten, Rhinebeck, N.Y. Below the portrait in a curved white ribbon in dark Gothic lettering is the name "Washington" in the center and the dates "1732" at the left and "1932" at the right. In each lower corner is a circular panel with dark ground and white edge with the numeral "4" in white Roman. Between the circles in a narrow white bordered panel curved to conform with the ribbon above is the word 'Cents' in white Roman letters.

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