#224 1890 6¢ Small Bank Note

Basic Information

Color: Brown red
Subject: James Garfield
Paper: Soft porous paper
Printing method: line-engraved intaglio on flat plates
Printer: American Bank Note Co.
Perforations: 12
Scott #: 224
Quantity issued: 9,253,400
Issued: February 22nd, 1890

Value

An unused stamp with perfect gum: $120-$150
An unused stamp with gum and a hinge mark: $5-$20
A used stamp: $2.50-$7.50

About the small bank note stamps

A pane of #224
Click the image to enlarge

“Small Bank Note" stamps refers to the last, and only, definitive series printed solely by the America Bank Note Company in 1894, hence the name bank note series. The printing of this series was taken over by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing in 1895. The Bureau added a triangle to the corner of the stamps to differentiate the 1895 from the 1894 series.

They are called "Small" to distinguish them from the "Large Bank Notes" issued from 1870 to 1893, as the 1894 stamps were reduced in size to cut production costs.

Usage

The earliest recorded date of use of #224, May 8th, 1890

The 6¢ Garfield stamp was primarily used pay the triple rate postage. It was also used, in combination with other stamps, to pay higher rates.

Plates

#224 was issued with the following plate #'s

23

The Inspiration for the Design

James Garfield source photo

The portrait of James A. Garfield featured on #224 was engraved by the American Bank Note Company based on a photograph by James Wallace Black (or sometimes attributed to his studio partnership, Black & Case). It had previously been used on the 5¢ stamp (#216)

The original photograph was a popular portrait taken during Garfield's time in the US House of Representatives (circa 1870–1880)