1895 15¢ Clay - U.S. #274

U.S. #274 1895 15¢ Clay

• Issued: September 10, 1895
• Issue Quantity: 7,013,612
• Printed by: Bureau of Engraving and Printing
• Watermark: Double line USPS
• Perforation: 12
• Color: Dark blue

Replacement: U.S. #274 was replaced on November 30, 1898, by U.S. #284. The change was necessary due to the standardized system recommended by the Universal Postal Union. The regulations called for green for the international single printed matter rate (1¢ U.S.), red for the international postcard rate (2¢ U.S.), and blue for international single letter rate (5¢ U.S.). So the colors for those stamps were changed accordingly. Others, including the 15¢ Clay stamp, had to be changed to maintain different colors for each.

Background: The decision to add watermarks to stamps in 1895 stemmed from the "Chicago Counterfeits" scandal, where counterfeit U.S. postage stamps were circulated. This scandal prompted the Post Office Department to introduce watermarked paper for postage stamps as a security measure. The watermark, consisting of the letters USPS (United States Postal Service), was double-lined and repeated across the entire sheet.