The 1893 Columbians

The Value of the Stamp


50c - Slate blue or dull slate blue
Scott #240

 
NY Auction Houses
 
MNH
MH
Graded
Used
MNH
Graded
MH
Graded
Used
Graded
Spring 2003
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Fall 2003
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Spring 2004
-
$90-$130
-
$40-$60
$2,500
-
-
-
-
-
Fall 2004
-
$100-$200
-
$35-$60
$1,800
-
-
-
-
-
Spring 2005
-
$105-$300
-
$40-$70
$2,700
-
-
-
-
-
Fall 2005
-
$150-$175
-
$25-$60
$2,900
-
-
-
-
-
Spring 2006
-
$75-$100
-
$25-$55
$425
80
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
$850
90
-
-
-
-
Fall 2006
$360
$90-$110
-
$35-$80
$2,700
90
$2,000
95
-
-
-
-
-
-
$16,000
95
-
-
-
-
Spring 2007
-
$70-$180
-
$25-$60
-
-
$800
90
-
-
Fall 2007
-
$80-$295
-
$22-$40
-
-
$575
90
$800
90
Spring 2008
$760
$90-$360
-
$35-$80
-
-
-
-
$450
90
Fall 2008
-
$110-$360
-
$26-$40
$1,800
85
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
$20,000
95
-
-
-
-
Spring 2009
$330
$190
-
$25-$85
$550
70
$250
80
$200-$300
90
-
-
-
-
$600
80J
$325-$375
85
$700
95
-
-
-
-
$1,250
85
$600-$625
90
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
$1,300
95
-
-
Fall 2009
$500
$100-$200
-
$18-$55
-
-
$600
90
-
-
-
$120
60
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
$715
90
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Spring 2010
$760-$810
$145-$160
-
$19-$55
$1,100
85
$325-$475
85
$225
90
-
-
-
-
-
-
$550
90
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
$1,200
95
-
-
Fall 2010
$250-$620
$125-$335
-
$14-$55
$10,000-$17,000
90J
$350-$375
85
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
$525-$700
90
-
-
Spring 2011
-
$90-$120
-
$29-$75
-
-
$375-$450
85
-
-
-
$850
95
-
-
-
$550-$600
90
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
$1,000
95
-
-
Fall 2011
-
-$170
-
$28-$60
$7,000
90J
$325
80
$600
90
-
-
-
-
-
-
$475
85
$750
90J
-
-
-
-
-
-
$1,600
95J
-
-
Spring 2012
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Fall 2012
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Spring 2013
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Fall 2013
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Spring 2014
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-

Statistics


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

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: 243,750

The Inspiration for the Design


The design is a copy of the A.G. Heaton 1882 oil 'The Recall of Columbus' This painting is now located in the US Senate A.G. Heaton also painted"Western Cattle in a Storm' used on the 1898 $1

What you should look for


As with all the values of this issue, look for Columbia Expo cancels or on a Columbian Expo cover, they marginaly increase value. 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.

Varieties to look for


The color ranges from Slate Blue to Dull Slate Blue. There are the occassional double transfers.

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.

The Essay's and Proofs

240 P4 US Proof Stamp

240 P4
Plate Proof on Card Stock


Large multiples, such as the one above, are rare in this value

The Columbus Expo was not all about large exhibition halls and grand boulevards. In between
on a parade, called the 'Midway' were scores of smaller booths, tents and the like. Shown
above is the Submarine Diving Exhibit, sans water.


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