Scott #65 — 3¢ Washington, rose (Red Brown) 1861

Updated August 7, 2026

Scott #65 — 3¢ Washington, rose (also listed as brown red / rose shades), perforated 12, unwatermarked.Swedish Tiger (theswedishtiger.com/65-scotts.html):Issued beginning August 19, 1861 (National Bank Note Company)Color: Rose, brown redPrinting: Line-engraved intaglio, flat platesPerforations: 12Watermark: NoneQuantity: approximately 1.78 billionPrimary use: 3¢ domestic letter rate (up to ½ ounce)This is the common workhorse stamp of the Civil War and Reconstruction period. The design is the familiar Washington profile in an oval with “U.S. POSTAGE” and “THREE CENTS.”Cover DetailsStamp: Scott 65, tied by a black circular cancel (partially visible).Addressee: Lauraell Smith (or similar spelling), Blandford, Mass.Manuscript notation: “1868” written in ink near the stamp — this is almost certainly a later filing or docketing date, not the year the letter was mailed. The stamp itself belongs to the 1861–67 issue period.Condition: Cover shows typical aging, light soiling, and a small tear/chip at the upper right edge. Stamp appears intact.Blandford, Massachusetts, was a small town in Hampden County; this is ordinary domestic mail of the era.ValueUsed single Scott 65 in average condition: $2–$8On a routine 1860s domestic cover with no special markings, fancy cancel, or historical content: $15–35Realistic current market value for this cover: $18–30Higher if the cancel is a clear town mark or if contents survive; lower if the cover has significant faults beyond what is visible. A solid, presentable example of the classic 3¢ 1861 issue on cover.

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