Issued: Introduced on February 22nd, 1890. The earliest recorded example is 5th March, 1890. This paid the registry rate up to the 31st Dec. 1892.

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

Printer: The American Bank Note Company

Watermark: None

Quantity Issued: 70,591,710

 

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 Daneil Webster is shown below.

The final design saw Daniel Webster as the chosen subject, a decision made over General Sherman, who was chosen for the 8c design and John Adams. If John Adams had been chosen the stamp would have looked like the illustration below.

There are no known varieties.

#226 - E1
Die Essay on Card

#226 - E2
Die Essay on White Glazed Paper

#226 - P1
Large Die Proof on India
Die Sunk on Card

#226 - P2
Roosevelt Proof

#226 - P4
Plate Proof on Inida