Cat # 1414 Christmas Commemorative Stamp Issue of 1970

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Cat # 1414 Christmas Commemorative Stamp Issue of 1970


Design # A828
Perf 10 1/2 x 11
Tagged
Denomination: 6c
Colors: multicolored
First Day of Issue: Nov. 5, 1970
Stamp Value:
Single:
MNH - .20
Used - .20
PB#8, 4# - 1.10
Margin zip block of 4 - .50

1414a Precanceled
MNH - .20
Used - .20
PB#8, 4# - 1.90
Margin zip block of 4 - .70

1414b Black omitted 525.
1414c Blue omitted (a) 1,500.
1414d Type II
MNH - .20
Used - .20
PB#8, 4# - 2.70
Margin zip block of 4 - .85

1414e Type II - Precanceled
MNH - .25
Used - .20
PB#8, 4# - 4.00
Margin zip block of 4 - 1.25


First Day Cities: Washington DC
Quantity Issued: Stamps 683,730,000 FDC's ( 2,014,450 Total 1414-18 )
Purpose: Christmas Issue of 1970
FDC Prices: [ ] 2. single [ ] 2.50 pair [ ] 3. block of 4 [ ] 4. Zip Block [ ] 6. Plate Block of 4
Stamp Size: 0.84 inches x 1.44 inches vert

Designed by Howard C. Mildner from a painting, The Nativity, by Lorenzo Lotto (1480-1556) in the National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Subject: The Nativity, by Lorenzo Lotto
Text: "National Gallery of Art - Lotto - Christmas 6c U.S."

Photogravure Press Printing Plates of 200 subjects in four panes of 50
Printed by: Guilford Gravure, Inc. Guilford, Conn.
Plate numbers used =

Note:
1414 has pregummed paper, a somewhat blurry impression, no gum breaker ridges and "snowflaking" in the sky.

1414d has paper with a shiny surface, much sharper impression, no snowflaking effect and gum breaker ridges running both horizontal and vertical.

1414a has a somewhat blurry impression, no gum breaker ridges, "snowflaking" in the sky and the precancel is grayish black.

1414e has much sharper impression, no snowflaking effect, gum breaker ridges and the precancel is intense black.

Note: The precanceled stamps (1414a-1418a) were provided to 68 cities. The plates used included two straight (1414a) or two wavy (1415a-1418a) black lines that make up the precancellation. Used copies make has an additional cancel.




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Lotto's painting reveals many of the characteristics of his later paintings, including a fascination with the dramatic effects of light and shadow and what for his time was an original use of colors. An Italian, probably born in Venice about 1480, he never gained fame in his own time, overshadowed by the great master, Titian. In fact, when he tried to auction thirty paintings when he was seventy (and impoverished), he found buyers for only seven.