Scotts #231 US stamps

#231 - 1893 2¢ Columbian

2¢
Brown violet, gray violet or dark brown violet

Subject: Landing of Columbus
Number issued: 1,464,588,750
Perforations: 12
Watermark: Unwatermarked
Scott #: 231
Issued:

The 2¢ was officially issued on January, 1st 1893, a Sunday, and at Post Offices the following day. There are a couple of examples postmarked on Saturday, December 31st, 1892

Value of #231

Used
25¢
No postmark with gum (MH)
$2 - $4
Full perfect gum, no postmark
no trace of stamp hinge mark (MNH)
$6 - $12

A half pane

A half pane of 50 of #231, there were two panes to a sheet of 200

Earliest date of use

The earliest recorded example, December 31st 1892

Exposition cancels

A rare R.P.O. World's Columbian Exposition cancel. Value is $4,000

Double Impression

The double impression can be seen in the top lettering.
Value approx. $1,500

Specimen

231-S
Specimen

#231A

The best known variety of the Columbian series is the “broken hat”, it's probably the result of a small crack caused by a weakening of the metal on the transfer roll.

The “broken frame line” was also caused by a defective transfer roll and occurs near the base outer right vertical frame line and extends for about one-eighth of an inch. Another small transfer break, which is known in two different stages, occurs on the bottom line in the lower right corner of the 2¢ stamp.

Value of #231A

Used
$3-$4
No postmark with gum (MH)
$8-$12
Full perfect gum, no postmark
no trace of stamp hinge mark (MNH)
$25 - $40

#231b

A sheet of stamps escaped from the bureau without perforations. A pair has a value of approximately $3,500.

Inspiration for the Design

The design originated from a painting titled ‘Columbus Landing at Guanahani’ by John Vanderlyn. Now located inside the Rotunda of the Washington Capitol Building.

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.

Plate #'s

#231 was issued with the following plate #'s

Al-5, Cll-15, E21-25, F26-30, G31-35, H36-40, 141-45, 060-64, Q70-74, T78-82, U83-87, V88-92, X94-98, EE109-113, FF114-118, GG119-123, HH124-128, JJ134-138, KK139-143, LL144-148, NN154-158, PP164-168, QQ169-173, RRl74-178, SSl79-183, TT184-188, UU189-193

Essay's and Proofs

Enlarge

231-E7b

Enlarge

231-P1

Enlarge

231-P3

The story behind the Columbian Issue

An American Bank Note Company set of proofs mounted on card and signed by the engravers

On the occasion of the 400th anniversary of the Landing of Columbus the largest Exposition ever held on US soil was held in Chicago. The Post Office was determined not to miss out on this and proposed a series of stamps to commemorate the event. The purpose behind this was three fold

1) To encourage the purchase of stamps by the public
2) To stimulate the hobby of stamp collecting
3) To make a tidy profit

It was estimated that 3 Billion stamps would be sold and between September and the end of December 1892 work progressed on their production.

The Post Office's plan of their exhibition space at the Chicago Exposition

At the Exposition the Post Office was in the US Government Building and had been given a vast amount of display space. The display cases showcased stamps from the very earliest days of stamps to 1892 both in the US and around the world. Postal cards were sold in every building and of course one could purchase the new Columbian series stamps.

The US Government building at the World's Columbian Exposition

The Post Office Dept. informed all post offices that they would not be able to order the new series on an 'as needed' basis as was the normal procedure. Instead they would be sent an amount the powers to be deemed sufficient. Plus the department would not accept any returns and they would not be issued any other stamps until they had run out the new series. This caused much complaining by the post office owners, complaints were coming in that these stamps were too big, being twice the size of current issue (this was done to accommodate the expansive designs).

The Post Office display space at the World's Fair

The post offices need not have worried. The stamps proved to be immensely popular. So much so that Post Offices refused to sell the higher values for fear of running out. The price of these skyrocketed as a result. Companies instructed their offices to use the higher values on internal parcels so they could benefit from their sale when delivered to their branch offices. US travellers in Europe were accosted for them, they were even traded on bourses.

And then like all bubbles, it collapsed. Before you knew it the $5 stamps were being sold at a steep discount. Being totally useless for letters, and with a world glut the price dropped like a stone, at one point stamp dealers would only offer 30% of the face value for them.