Scotts #219 US stamps

#219 - 1890 1¢

1¢
Dull blue, blue, deep blue, ultramarine

Printing Method: Engraved
Subject: Benjamin Franklin
Number issued: 2,206,093,450
Perforations: P12
Watermark: Unwatermarked
Scott #: 219
Issued: February 22nd, 1890

Value

Used
30¢ - 75¢
No postmark with gum (MH)
$2 - $4
Full perfect gum, no postmark
no trace of stamp hinge mark (MNH)
$15 - $27.50

A full Pane

A full pane of 100 of #219, there were four panes to a sheet of 400

Earliest Date of Use

The earliest recorded example, February 27th 1890

The Candle Flame

Mentioned by Brookman but rarely seen is the so called candle flame variety. To the right hand side of either one of the two numeral ones on the stamp extends a white area, said to resemble the flame of a candle. An example is shown above.

The white area is created by a raised portion of the plate in this area, due to poor workmanship on the plate. When the ink is wiped from the plate this area is wiped of ink, thus causing the absence of ink above the foot of the number one. Due to this the shape and size of the flame can vary, thus this is a printing flaw and not a plate flaw.

No triangles in the corner

On the left is shown the detail of a stamp from the 1890 series, note the absence of a triangle in the top corners of the design. All the Bureau (after 1894) issues had a triangle cut into the design as shown on the right

A "Putty faced Franklin"

Previous versions of Franklins portrait on the 1¢ stamp had Franklin facing to the right. This, along with the pale blue color were the principle reasons that this design was disliked by the general public. The NY Times said that Franklin facing to the left 'entirely altered his expression and making him resemble a putty-faced personification of senility'.

Plate #'s

#219 was issued with the following plate #'s

400 subject plates
C 11-15, G 36-40, Q 89-93, BB 145-149, FF 165-169, UU 240-244, C1 280-284, D1 285-289, F1 295-299