Scott 1140 - Benjamin Franklin American Credo 4-cent US Stamp Plate Blocks - CHOOSE YOUR PLATE NUMBER

Scott #1140 4¢ United States Postage Stamp Honors the Famous Quote by Benjamin Franklin, "Fear to do ill, and you need fear Nought else".

All plate blocks are in MNH (Mint Never Hinged) condition. Four different plates were used when printing the stamps. The corresponding plate numbers are 26582, 26587, 26589, and 26591. If the plate number & position are not important when ordering, you can select 'Surprise me!'. Each separate plate block will come in a glassine envelope for protection.

• Subject - Scott #1140 is a 4-cent U.S. postage stamp issued on March 31, 1960, showcasing Benjamin Franklin's enduring quote: “Fear to do ill, and you need fear nought else.” As the inaugural stamp in the American Credo series, it embodies core American values. While some descriptions suggest the design includes an eagle encircled by laurel leaves, this detail lacks confirmation from authoritative sources. (If you search online, it seems to indicate that there's a portrait of Benjamin Franklin on this stamp, when clearly there is not.)
• Issue Date - March 31st, 1960
• City of Issue - Philadelphia, PA
• Color - Olive Bister & Green
• *Giori Press Printing - Perf. 11
• Quantity Issued - 124,560,000 printed

* The Giori Press enabled multiple colors to be printed in a single pass using a single, engraved plate.

NOTE: Please understand that we’ve made every effort to inspect these stamps for visual defects and imperfect gum. As amateur collectors, they’ve passed our 'keep' test (...and we're pretty picky ☺️). We believe that, although these postage stamp blocks are not professionally certified, they are in excellent condition.