The 1893 Columbians

The Value of the Stamp



1c - Deep blue, pale blue or blue
Scott #230

 
NY Auction Houses
 
MNH
Graded
MH
MNH
Graded
MH
Graded
Spring 2003
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Fall 2003
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Spring 2004
$20-$50
-
$5-$10
-
-
-
-
Fall 2004
$17-$35
-
$5-$8
$50-$300
-
-
-
Spring 2005
$5-$25
-
$2-$5
$50
-
-
-
Fall 2005
$7-$40
-
$3-$6
$90
-
-
-
Spring 2006
$16-$20
90
$3-$8
$210
90
-
-
-
-
-
$325-$675
95
-
-
Fall 2006
$45
80
$2-$4
$950
95J
-
-
-
-
-
$2,500
98
-
-
Spring 2007
$17-$60
-
$2-$4
$120
-
-
-
Fall 2007
$21-$40
-
$3-$5
$170
90
-
-
-
-
-
$475-$500
95
-
-
-
-
-
$525-$950
95J
-
-
-
-
-
$2,700
98
-
-
Spring 2008
$25-$60
-
$4-$12
$115
85
-
-
-
-
-
$200
90
-
-
-
-
-
$675
95
-
-
Fall 2008
$7-$16
-
$3-$8
$75
85
-
-
-
-
-
$300-$350
95
-
-
-
-
-
$375-$400
95J
-
-
-
-
-
$1,600
98
-
-
Spring 2009
$11-$30
-
$2-$6
$140-$425
95
-
-
$70
90
-
$400-$650
95J
-
-
Fall 2009
$8-$30
-
$3-$5
$100
90
-
-
$200
95
-
$225
95
-
-
-
-
-
$650-$850
98
-
-
-
-
-
$4,250
98J
-
-
Spring 2010
$9-$45
-
$3-$9
-
-
$30
75J
Fall 2011
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Spring 2011
-
-
-
-
-
-
-

The used stamp is worth less than $1

Statistics


Issued: Jan 2nd 1893 but first placed on sale at the Columbian Exposition on Jan 3rd 1893

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

Half Pane of #230

Full Pane of #230

Printer: The American Bank Note Company, thereafter, with one exception of the Overun stamps of 1943 all stamps have ssince been printed by the Bureau of Engraving

Watermark: None

Quantity Issued: 449,195,550

Usage: Paid the 1c post card rate so therefore very common

Interesting Fact: The Columbian series was unpopular with the business community, not because of the design, but because of the large size.

What you should look for


As with all the values of this issue, look for Columbia Expo cancels, they marginaly increase value.

Occasionaly postmarks from states that had tiny amounts of mail in this year can add to the value. This is particularly true of Alaska and the Territories. For a list of the number of stamps issued by each state in the year ending 30th June 1894 click here.

The Inspiration for the Design


The design was after a engraving by W.H. Powell, who is famous for his painting "Discovery of the Mississippi" which can be found in the Capitol Rotunda. Unfortunately I have not been able to locate this engraving.

Varieties to look for


The stamps color ranges from blue to pale blue with little variation. Other than the occasional double entry there one major flaw to look for, that being the cracked plate.

#230 Cracked Plate Variety
(image donated by Steve Marczewski)

#230 Close up of Cracked Plate flaw
(image donated by Steve Marczewski)

The Making of the Stamp



Plate Proof of the 1c (230-P4)

 


Mis-perforation of #230

The Columbian Exposition - Inside the Transportation Building

What is always surprising to me is that such a grand event
like the Exposition, was constructed using horse power,
the old fashioned kind. No better photo illustrates this than
the powerful interior of the transportation building with
only buggies and carriages lined up. In a decade things
would change dramaticaly.

To view three excellent videos about horses and the expo click the video's below.



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