F4103

Benjamin Franklin

Printer

Collins Cover Announcement

Benjamin Franklin

Printer

At an early age, Franklin became an apprentice to a printer in Boston where he learned the trade. In 1723 he moved to Philadelphia and purchased the Pennsylvania Gazette newspaper. Nine years later he published the first Poor Richard's Almanack in which he promoted virtue by the use of proverbs and humor. It quickly became well read and famous in the colonies — as did Ben.

Franklin's- publishing company had a great reputation and was very successful. It printed books, government documents, currency, and religious papers. The handsome new stamp features the front page of a Pennsylvania Gazette, a cover of Poor Richard's Almanack and a currency note printed in 1760. It also shows a middle aged Franklin in his printer's garb.

The individually hand painted cachet features two components. The first is a larger and more detailed portrait of Benjamin Franklin in his work attire. The second part of the artwork shows the printer going over a job with a customer as the pressman looks on. It's an excellent illustration of this important part of Franklin's life, and the watercolors truly make it a miniature painting.

Finally, the wonderful pictorial First Day postmark obtained for this Collins set is great. This time the cancel is on the left side of the envelope with the new stamp in the upper left corner. Benjamin Franklin was one of our more famous forefathers, and I'm happy to honor him as the talented craftsman that he became in his Philadelphia printing shop. Collins #F4103 —$13.25.