The Value of the Stamp



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

  NY Auction Houses
  MNH Graded MH MNH Graded MH Graded Used 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 2010 $6-$65 - $3-$10 $40 80 - - $180 95J
$35 90 - $200-$300 95 - - - -
$135 95 - $950 98 - - - -
Spring 2011 $11-$50 - $3-$8 $200-$250 95 - - $500 98
$675 98 - $600-&625 98 - - - -
Fall 2011 $9-$65 - $4-$8 $170-$225 95 - - - -
- - - $220 95J - - - -
- - - $900 98 - - - -
2012 $8-$80 - $3-$8 $160 95 - - - -
$80 90 - $250 95J - - - -
$100 90J - $1,100 98J - - - -
$130 95 - - - - - - -
2013 - - - - - - - - -
2014 - - - - - - - - -
2015 - - - - - - - - -
2016 - - - - - - - - -

The used stamp is worth less than $1

Statistics

Issued: The 1¢ was officially issued on January, 1st 1893, a Sunday, and at Post Offices the following day. There are a couple of examples postmarked in New York, N.Y., on January 1st, 1893.

230 fdc
1¢ to 10¢ values on cover, all postmarked
January 1st, 1893 in New York, N.Y.

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 since been printed by the Bureau of Engraving

Watermark: None

Quantity Issued: 449,195,550

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

Color: Deep blue, pale blue or blue. The railroad mail clerks complained that this new larger 1¢ stamp looked like the blue Special Delivery stamp, the latter’s color was changed to orange a few months after the Columbian’s introduction, so that it would not be confused with the UPU designated blue color for the 1¢ Columbian.

Common use: The stamp was primarily used to pay the one-cent-per-half-ounce third-class printed matter rate

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 Columbian Expo cancels, they increase the value of the stamp or cover.

Occasionally 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.

Exposition cancel

The Inspiration for the Design

According to legend, disbelievers among the crew were finally convinced that Columbus was divinely inspired and fell to their knees in front of him. This legend was the inspiration of a painting created by George William Henry Powell (1823-1879). In the center of Powell’s painting stands a staunch, controlled Columbus among his elated and reverent men. It is believed that engravers crafted the 1¢ Columbus in Sight of Land stamp from Powell’s work. Of the 16 commemorative stamps issued in 1892 for the Chicago Exposition, this stamp departs the farthest from the original painting.

It is worth noting that Columbus is clean shaven whilst sighting land on this stamp, whilst the two cent value depicts Columbus during the landing sporting a full beard. This was the subject of much derision at the time of issue.

Varieties to look for

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

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

#230 A detail of Cracked Plate flaw
(image donated by Steve Marczewski)

The Essay's and Proofs

230-E3
Silver print photo vignette mounted inside a watercolor drawing of the frame.
Stiff white paper. Contributed to Alfred S. Major.

230 US Stamp Plate Proof

230 P2
Small Die Proof on india paper


Plate Proof of on card (230-P4)

 

The Columbian Exposition - Inside the Transportation Building