BENJAMIN FRANKLIN Z-grill,1867

Another popular stamp associated with the Civil War issue contains the portrait Benjamin Franklin, a famous political theorist, diplomat, author, scientist and the president of Pennsylvania. Dubbed “the First American” for his extensive political campaign in support of colonial unity, Franklin played a key part in shaping the American mentality as the union of practical values and social tolerance. The Post Office Department used his profile taken from Houdon’s bust for multiple stamp designs starting from 1847.
The 1c Benjamin Franklin stamp issued in 1867 features a rare Z-grill with horizontal ridges, just like two other designs from the series depicting Abraham Lincoln and George Washington. At present, there are only two existing samples valued at a whopping $935,000 apiece.