Scotts #228 US stamps

#228 - 1890 30¢

30¢
Black, gray black, full black

Printing Method: Engraved
Subject: Thomas Jefferson
Number issued: 1,735,018
Perforations: P12
Watermark: Unwatermarked
Scott #: 228
Issued: February 22nd, 1890

#228 Value

Used
$6 - $10
No postmark with gum (MH)
$35 - $110
Full perfect gum, no postmark
no trace of stamp hinge mark (MNH)
$125 - $250

Earliest Date of Use

The earliest recorded date of use, April 27th, 1890

A Change of Face

Above is shown the 1870 10¢, note the similarity to the 1894 50¢ 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. However in doing so some thought it made Jefferson look like a child.

No triangles in the corner

On the left is shown the detail of a stamp from the 1890 series, note the absence of a triangle in the top corners of the design. All the Bureau (after 1894) issues had a triangle cut into the design as shown on the right