Issued: Due to the introduction of the new reduced registered mail rate of 8c in 1893 this stamp was introduced, three years later (on March 21st 1893) than the rest of this series, earliest recorded example is 4th May, 1893. The 8c Columbian was issued 19 days before this stamp.

Plate Size: Sheets of 200 subjects (2 panes of 100)

Printer: The American Bank Note Company

Watermark: None

Quantity Issued: 12,087,800

 

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.

The source photograph of General William Tecumseh Sherman is shown below. The choice of Sherman on the photograph was not too popular with.

There are no known varieties.

#225 - TC4
Trial Color Proof
Gummed Wove Paper

#225-P4
Plate Proof on India