The value of the stamps Statistics and facts about the stamp
what you should look for how the stamp was made
Varieties of the stamp the making of the stamp

The Value of the Stamp



Thomas Jefferson (biography)
30c - Full black, black or gray black
Scott #228 - 1890

 
NY Auction Houses
 
MNH
MH
Used
MNH
Graded
MH
Graded
Spring 2003
-
-
-
$400-$500
-
-
-
Fall 2003
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Spring 2004
-
$35-$45
$1-$5
-
-
-
-
Fall 2004
-
$75-$100
$6-$17
-
-
-
-
Spring 2005
-
-
$7-$20
$800
-
-
-
Fall 2005
-
$75-$200
$2-$10
$1,450
-
-
-
Spring 2006
-
$65-$80
$3-$13
$3,500
90
-
-
Fall 2006
-
$40-$170
$3-$11
$3,250
90
-
-
Spring 2007
-
$65-$155
$5-$25
$2,800
90
-
-
Fall 2007
-
$45-$105
$5-$12
-
-
-
-
Spring 2008
$275
$50-$130
$2-$15
$17,000
95J
$425
85
Fall 2008
-
$50-$55
$3-$10
$1,050
80J
$425
85
-
-
-
$2,100-$3,000
90
$450-$900
90
Spring 2009
-
$45
$4-$10
$6,500
95
$850
90
Fall 2009
-
$45-$150
$4-$10
$1,800
90
$375
85
-
-
-
$8,500
95J
-
-
Spring 2010
$225-$1,125
$50-$80
$4-$12
$1,450-$2,500
90
$425
85J
-
-
-
-
-
$3,000
98J
Fall 2010
$240-$255
$40-$110
$4-$9
$850
85
$220
75
-
-
-
$13,500
98
$425
85J
-
-
-
-
-
$450
90
Spring 2011
$200
$75-$215
$5-$18
-
-
-
-
Fall 2011
-
$40-$90
$4-$24
-
-
-
-
Spring 2012
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Fall 2012
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Spring 2013
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Fall 2013
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Spring 2014
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Fall 2014
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Spring 2015
-
-
-
-
-
-
-

Statistics


Issued: Introduced on February 22nd, 1890. The earliest recorded example is 14th April, 1890.

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

Printer: The American Bank Note Company

Watermark: None

Quantity Issued: 1,504,408


What you should look for

 

228 block US Postage Stamps

Plate blocks and any multiple greater than four are very scarce, more so in mint condition.

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.

1890 US Stamp Detail

The Inspiration for the Design


The 1890 30c design is essentialy a reworked design of the Jefferson bust that appears on the 1870 10c.

The original 1870 design of Jefferson was based, loosely on Houdon's bust of Jefferson. Unlike any other representation of Jefferson the bust had bare shoulders.

Shown below is a version, that very nearly made it as the default Jefferson bust to be used. Next to it is one of the many essays of the final 1870 version.

Below is shown the 1870 10c, note the similar bust used as in the 1894 50c vignette. The 1870 rendition of the bust was criticized in that it was said that Jefferson was appearing to be falling asleep or nodding off. This was corrected in the 1894 design, the vignette was tilted a tad to the right and the eyes reworked, the whole effect being one 'wide-awake' third president of the United States.

The resemblance between Houdon's bust of Thomas Jefferson and this rendition is quite marked.

228 US stamps


Varieties to look for


There are no varieties of #228


The Essay's and Proofs


228 TC1 Trial Color Proof - United States Stamps

228-TC1
Trial Color Proof
Dark Green

228P2 Roosevelt Die Proof United States Stamps
228-P2
Roosevelt Die Proof

228-P3 Plate Proof on India - US Postage Stamps

228-P3
Plate Proof on India
(Mouted on Card)


228-P3 US Stamps, Die Proof on Card

228-P4
Plate Proof on Card

 

 


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