Census of St. Louis, Missouri, 20c Black on Greenish, Postmaster's Provisional (11X3)

The “Bears” were printed from an engraved copper plate comprising six subjects arranged in two vertical rows of three. The original plate was made by a local engraver, J. M. Kershaw, and it was altered twice. The states of the plate (1, 2 and 3) roughly correspond to the papers used (Greenish, Gray Lilac and Bluish Pelure). On sheets printed from Plate 1 there were three 5¢ subjects in the vertical row at left and three 10c subjects at right. To fill the need for 20c stamps, the denominations on two of the 5¢ subjects (Positions 1 and 3) were burnished out and reengraved with “20,” creating Plate 2. After some time the two 5¢ values were restored by burnishing out the “20” and reengraving “5,” which is Plate 3.

The first paper used was greenish in color. Most of the Greenish paper supply was used in combination with Plate 1, but a small supply of Greenish paper was used with Plate 2, which contained the two 20¢ subjects. The 20c on Greenish (Scott 11X3) is a great rarity with only five recorded, including three off cover and two on one cover. Gray Lilac paper replaced Greenish paper and was only used in conjunction with Plate 2. The last paper used is classified as Pelure, used only in conjunction with Plate 3.