Scott #526 - 30¢ Orange Franklin - Baltimore MD High-Shift Precancel EFO - Washington-Franklin Era

Washington–Franklin 30¢ with High-Placement Baltimore Precancel

A well-struck Baltimore, Maryland, precancel on Scott #526, the 1919 30¢ orange Benjamin Franklin from the Washington–Franklin definitive series. This higher-denomination issue is appreciated by collectors of precancels, EFO material, and early 20th-century U.S. postal history. The high-placement precancel adds additional interest for specialists who seek visually distinct examples.

Key Features

Higher-denomination 30¢ Franklin from the Washington–Franklin era
Baltimore MD, precancel in double-line style
Noticeably high-shift placement
Clean, readable strike across the design
The bright orange color is typical of this issue
Substantial addition for precancel albums, Washington–Franklin collections, or EFO specialty pages

Technical Details

• Issued in 1919 as part of the Washington–Franklin definitive series

• Printed by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing

• Intaglio (engraved) printing process

• Perf 11 on all sides 

• Has original gum with light hinging.

• Design features Benjamin Franklin facing left

• Denomination: 30 cents

• Color classification: Orange

• Watermark: Unwatermarked (as typical for Scott 526)

Collector Appeal

• Appeals to precancel specialists tracking city types, styles, and alignment varieties

• Useful for Washington–Franklin collectors completing denomination, color, and perf subsets

• Strong representation of early commercial mail practices and business-use postage

• Ideal for a study page on precancel shifts, placement variations, and EFOs

Additional Notes

High-denomination precancels remain less common than low values
An approachable way to add a distinctive Washington–Franklin variety to a specialized collection