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

The Boston Post Office had the whole series (minus the 8c) for sale on January 2nd, not waiting for the launch at the Expo the next day. As a result there are a few first day covers with the January 2nd date. Such an example is shown above, there are only four January 2nd FDC's known.

Plate Size: Sheets of 100 subjects (2 panes of 50)

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: 19,181,550

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.

Picturing the Fleet of Columbus, the flagship of Christopher Columbus, Santa Maria is prominent in the center. The origin of the image is unknown. One theory is that it came from an American book, the other is that it is a Spanish engraving. It is more than likely that it is a US engraving based on a Spanish original, shown below.

The Blue Color Error

The stamps color is normally ultramarine. #233a is the color error of this stamp, being printed with a blue ink, instead of ultramarine. Two sheets, #D17 and #D18 were purchased whole, the plate numbers from these sheets still exist. There were other sheets printed and sold as postage, these appear occasionally appear at auctions at a hefty premium over the standard #233. The color error was caused by when the printers erroneously used the ink designated for the 1c issue.

There are thirteen used examples.

4c - Deep Blue (color error)
Scott #233a - 1893

	NY Auction Houses
	MH	Graded
Spring 2003	-	-
Fall 2003	-	-
Spring 2004	-	-
Fall 2004	$13,000	-
Spring 2005	$27,000	-
Fall 2005	-	-
Spring 2006	$12,500	-
Fall 2006	-	-
Spring 2007	-	-
Fall 2007	-	-
Spring 2008	-	-
Fall 2008	-	-
Spring 2009	$18,000-$21,000	-
Fall 2009	$6,230	-
Spring 2010	-	-
Fall 2011	-	-
Spring 2011	-	-

The Three Leaf Variety

A fairly common variety, it marginally adds to the value of the stamp.

Columbian essays are very hard to find. I have not located a copy of #230, #231 or #232, however #233's essay, shown below, is easily located.

233-E2b
Large Die Essay on India
82 x 70mm card with full die sinkage

233-E2b
Large Die Essay on India
Showing green color that ended up being
used on the 3c

233-P1
Columbian large die proof on India, die sunk on 110x101mm card