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

Commodore Matthew Perry (bio)
90c - Orange, red orange or yellow orange
Scott #229 - 1890

 
NY Auction Houses
 
MNH
MH
Graded
Used
MNH
Graded
MH
Graded
Used
Graded
Spring 2003
-
-
-
-
$700
-
-
-
-
-
Fall 2003
-
-
-
-
$600
-
-
-
-
-
Spring 2004
-
-
-
$13-$30
-
-
-
-
-
-
Fall 2004
-
-
-
$13-$30
-
-
-
-
-
-
Spring 2005
-
-
-
$20-$60
$4,000
-
-
-
-
-
Fall 2005
-
-
-
$16-$35
$3,750
-
-
-
-
-
Spring 2006
-
$330
-
$15-$45
$1,400
90
-
-
-
-
Fall 2006
-
$275
-
$21-$80
$3,750
90
-
-
-
-
Spring 2007
-
$355
75
$10-$25
$2,600
85
-
-
-
-
Fall 2007
-
$80-$160
-
$20-$55
$2,800
85
-
-
-
-
Spring 2008
$270-$505
$140-$155
-
$22-$60
-
-
-
-
-
-
Fall 2008
-
$90-$135
-
$25-$65
$4,250
90
$1,100
95
$850
95J
Spring 2009
$250
$100-$280
-
$15-$35
$3,000
90
$130
75
$260
90J
-
-
-
-
-
-
$475
90
-
-
Fall 2009
$300
-
-
$11-$35
-
-
-
-
$200
90
Spring 2010
$990
$125-$180
-
$11-$50
-
-
-
-
-
-
Fall 2010
$225-$1,115
$225
-
$11-$40
$3,000-$3,600
90
-
-
$375
90
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
$450
90J
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
$800
95J
Spring 2011
$270
$130
-
$13-$45
$1,600
90
-
-
$180
90J
Fall 2011
-
$70
-
$12-$45
$2,100-$3,250
90
-
-
$250
90
Spring 2012
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Fall 2012
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Spring 2013
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Fall 2013
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Spring 2014
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Fall 2014
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Spring 2015
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-


90c - Orange, red orange or yellow orange
200,000 - Scott #229a - 1890
- Imperf

 
NY Auction Houses
 
MNH
MH
Spring 2008
-
$625
Fall 2008
-
-
Spring 2009
$900
-
Fall 2009
-
-
Spring 2010
-
-
Fall 2010
-
-
Spring 2011
-
-
Fall 2011
-
-
Spring 2012
-
-

Statistics


Issued: Introduced on February 22nd, 1890. Earliest documented use, April 16th (shown below).

229 earliest use US Postage Stamp

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

Printer: The American Bank Note Company

Watermark: None

Quantity Issued: 219,721, a scarce stamp


What you should look for


229 block US Postage Stamps

Plate blocks and any multiple greater than four are very scarce, in any condition. Very rarely seen on small covers as this stamp was used for heavy items.

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 old 90 cents gave way to a new $1, the profile of Perry being transferred to the new value

The two new 1894 values, the 50c and the $1 did not have new engravings of presidential heads, they just recycled the 1870 engravings.

The original 1870 design of Perry was based on Walcotts bust, of which I am unable to find an image. Below is shown a similar marble bust of Perry by Erastus Dow Palmer, a contemporary of Walcott.

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.

Commodore Matthew Perry (1794 -1858)


Varieties to look for


There are no varieties of #229


The Essay's and Proofs


229-E1 Essay US Postage Stamps

#229 - E1
Die Essay on India
die sunk on card

229 P1 Proof US Postage Stamps

#229 - P1
Large Die Proof on India
die sunk on card

229 US Postage stamp Proof

#229 - P2
Small Die Proof
(from Roosevelt album)

US Postage Stamp Proof #229

#229 - P4
Plate Proof on Card


 


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