Issued: 22nd February 1890, earliest recorded example is also of this date.

Plate Size: Sheets of 400 subjects (4 panes of 100)

Printer: The American Bank Note Company

Watermark: None

Quantity Issued: 100,000,000

The color of this stamp is lake, it is distinctively different from later all other shades of the 2c. It was also universally disliked by the public at the time, being compared to the color of hosiery. There were also complaints that the color rubbed off. As a result the color was soon changed, and due to its short period of circulation sells at a slight premium over the average price of the other 2c colors. The chances of finding a lake 2c to a carmine 2c are 60 to 1.

Without knowing it, the 1890 series was to be the American Bank Note Company's (ABN Co.) last printing of postage stamps. Until the flag overun series of the forties all stamps after this series were to be printed by the Bureau of printing and engraving.

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

You will also notice the tremendous difference in quality between the two stamps. By 1890 the ABN Co. had perfected the art of printing postage stamps and it shows by the even ink sharp design and clean perforations. Contrast this with the spotty faded ink and uneven perforations on the Bureau's stamp on the right.

American Bank Note Company's Head Quarters in Manhattan
70 Broad St, NY, NY.

The design was taken from the portrait bust of Washington by Jean Antoine Houdon. Now at Mount Vernon.

Inking Flaw
(top center right)

The ink used on this stamp was not the easiest to work with, being gummy by nature. As a result you are more likely to see inking flaws on the 2c Lake color than any other stamp in this series.

219D-P
Plate Proof on India Paper