1902-03 4¢ Grant - U.S. #303

U.S. #303 - Series of 1902-03 4¢ Grant

Issued on February 10, 1903, U.S. #303 features Ulysses S. Grant (1822-1885), the renowned Union general and 18th President of the United States. Grant's leadership during the Civil War was instrumental in securing victory for the Union forces, particularly through his strategic campaigns in the South and his defeat of Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia, which ultimately led to the collapse of the Confederacy in 1865.

Following his military triumphs, Grant transitioned to the political arena, becoming the youngest man in history to be elected President in 1869. As President, Grant implemented a diligent administration characterized by a robust foreign policy agenda. Despite facing various scandals during his presidency, Grant managed to maintain his reputation as a hardworking and effective leader.

The 4¢ Grant stamp of the Series of 1902-03 holds historical significance beyond its depiction of the esteemed general and President. Notably, it marked a reversal in the portrayal of Grant and Abraham Lincoln on postage stamps, with Grant now featured on the 4¢ denomination and Lincoln on the five-cent stamp. This change reflected the decision to assign Lincoln, a more iconic figure, to the widely circulated denomination.

Moreover, the 4¢ Grant stamp was not tied to a specific postal rate but was predominantly used in multiples to cover the 8¢ registry fee or as part of the postage for a domestic first-class letter with special delivery.

An intriguing aspect of this stamp's history is the production of imperforate versions exclusively for use by the Schermack Company, a stamp vending machine company in Detroit. With only around 50 examples known to exist, along with a handful on cover, these imperforate stamps are highly coveted rarities among U.S. stamp collectors.

U.S. #303 is part of the Series of 1902-03, which introduced ornate new designs and expanded the range of denominations. This series marked a departure from the previous regular issues, with notable additions including the 13-cent denomination and the introduction of portraits honoring Benjamin Harrison, Admiral David Farragut, and the first American woman in postal history.

While the inscription "Series 1902" on each stamp initially caused speculation among European philatelists, it ultimately signaled the beginning of a new era in U.S. stamp design and production, setting the stage for future innovations in postal issues.