The Value of the Stamp



15¢ - Dark green, green or dull green
Scott #238

  NY Auction Houses
  MNH Graded MH Graded Used MNH Graded MH Graded
Spring 2003 - - - - - - - - -
Fall 2003 - - - - - - - - -
Spring 2004 $55-$105 - $20-$45 - $12-$20 $220 - - -
Fall 2004 $50-$70 - $25-$35 - $8-$20 $5,000 - - -
Spring 2005 $75-$120 - $25-$60 - $8-$25 - - - -
Fall 2005 $330 - $40-$200 - $8-$25 - - - -
Spring 2006 $100-$200 - $25-$40 - $6-$25 $11,500 95J - -
Fall 2006 $75-$200 - $30-$35 - $9-$30 $1,350 90 - -
- - - - - $16,000 98 - -
Spring 2007 $55-$850 - $26-$50 - $8-$22 - - - -
Fall 2007 $200-$250 - $35-$170 - $10-$26 $950 85 $1,900 95J
- - - - - $1,700 90 - -
Spring 2008 $140-$255 - $35-$65 - $12-$19 $270 70 - -
$1,325 85J - - - - - - -
Fall 2008 $190 - $40-$55 - $8-$16 $750 85 $375 90
- - - - - $950 85J $1,200 98
- - - - - $1,300 90 - -
Spring 2009 - - $40-$85 - $12-$20 $600 80 - -
- - - - - $600 85 - -
- - - - - $1,300 90J - -
- - - - - $17,500 98 - -
Fall 2009 $175 - $45-$85 - $10-$19 $1,000 90 $1,200 98
- - - - - $6,250 98 - -
Spring 2010 $115-$500 - $50-$70 - $8-$23 - - $575 95
Fall 2010 $100 - $50-$70 - $6-$27 $550 85 - -
$1,050 85 $210 90 - $3,750 95 - -
- - - - - $9,500-$10,500 98 - -
Spring 2011 $65 - $28-$40 - $9-$50 $750 85 - -
- - $365 95 - $600-$1,100 90 - -
- - - - - $2,600 95 - -
Fall 2011 $80-$175 - $45-$100 - $12-$35 $6,250 98 - -
2012 $90-$130 - $25-$40 - $8-$27 $350 80 $1,500 98
$155 80 - - - $900 90 $2,600 98J
$700 85 - - - $8,350 98 - -
2013 - - - - - - - - -
2014 - - - - - - - - -
2015 - - - - - - - - -
2016 - - - - - - - - -

Statistics

Issued: The 15¢ was officially issued on January, 1st 1893, a Sunday, and at Post Offices the following day. There is no copy of a first day cover of the 15¢ issue. The earliest
known cover dates from January 26th, 1893, shown below.

238

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


A half pane of #238

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

Color: Dark green, green or dull green.

Common use: The stamp was most commonly used to pay triple the standard foreign mail rate of 5¢.

238

Quantity Issued: 1,576,950

What you should look for

As with all the values of this issue, look for Columbian Expo cancels or on a Columbian Expo cover, they increase the value of the stamp or cover. Any stamp is more desirable with a clean cancel, preferably a town cancel, heavy cancels can detract from the value and are common on this value..

The Inspiration for the Design

The design came from a painting with the same title by Ricardo Baloca y Cancico. This painting was destroyed in the Spanish Civil War.



"Columbus announces his discovery"
Ricardo Baloca y Cancico

Varieties to look for

The color is a fairly consistent dark green, and although Scotts lists three different shades I am more of a belief that there aret three different stages of fading. There are the occasional double transfers.

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.

The Essay's and Proofs

238 essay
238 p1

238-TC1
Trial Color Proof

238-P3

238 P3
Proof on thin card