Issued: March 1st 1893 but first placed on sale March 21st 1893. Note that this was issued three months after the rest of the Columbian series. This was issued as it was planned to have an 8c rate for registered letters. It is the first 8c stamp issued by the Post Office.

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

Pane of #236

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: 10,656,550

Usage: Paid the 8c registry fee so therefore quite common, you will see a lot of registry target cancels on this issue.

As with all the values of this issue, look for Columbia Expo cancels, they marginaly increase value. Any stamp is more desirable with a clean cancel, preferably a town cancel, heavy cancels can detract from the value. As this value was used for the registered mail rate expect to see a lot of target cancels when looking for a copy.

The target cancel used for registered mail

The design is a reproduction of Francisco Jover Casanova's 'Columbus Restored to Favor' painting, now located in Spain. I believe there is not an image for this painting in existance.

The stamps color light magenta to dark magenta. In 2009 the only variety I have seen of this issue sold for $300, this being an example of the stamp printed on both sides (shown below). Other than this, the occasional double entry is all there is to look for.

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.

236 P2
Small Die Proof