Joseph Ives Pease was born in
Norfolk, VA, in the United States, on 9 August 1809. He initially showed talent
as an inventor but in the early 1830s he went to New York City to study drawing
at the National Academy of Design. For many years after, Pease engrave
portraits for the National Portrait Gallery. In 1858, Pease came to work for
the American Bank Note Company.
In 1865, Charles Jeens had
submitted essays for the cod and seal definitives for Newfoundland, but
eventually it was Joseph Pease who got to engrave the stamps.
The 1870 ‘busts’ definitives of
the United States included a portrait of Franklin engraved by Pease. He had probably
started work on a portrait in September 1869, but his first engraving was of a
bust facing right. It was trialled with various frames but then Pease was asked
to engrave another portrait, this time facing left. That portrait was
eventually used on the 1c value.
Joseph Pease passed away on 2 July
1883.
You will find Joseph Ives Pease's database HERE.