The Value of the Stamp


$1 - Salmon or dark salmon
Scott #241

  NY Auction Houses
  MNH Graded MH Graded Used MNH Graded MH Graded Used Graded
Spring 2004 - - $250-$300 - $150-$200 - - - - - -
Fall 2004 - - $300-$1,000 - $150-$250 $2,200 - - - - -
Spring 2005 - - $500-$700 - $185-$325 $3,750 - - - - -
Fall 2005 $1,725 - - - $185-$200 $3,300 - - - - -
Spring 2006 $1,200 - $300-$950 - $90-$140 $2,300 90 - - - -
Fall 2006 - - $185-$350 - $145-$150 $5,750 - $4,000 95 - -
Spring 2007 $660 - $230-$480 - $120-$145 - - $900 80 - -
Fall 2007 - - $200-$400 - $135 $6,500 90 - - - -
Spring 2008 - - $190-$510 - $150-$170 - - $1,250 80 - -
Fall 2008 - - $200-$520 - $100-$120 - - $650 70 $750-$800 90
- - - - - - - $1,050 85 - -
Spring 2009 - - - - $205-$285 $2,800 80 $625 80 $220 70
- - - - - $10,000 90 $1,300 90 $300-$350 80
- - - - - - - $2,200 95 $600-$700 90
Fall 2009 $1,150 - $260-$725 - $160 - - $2,400-$3,750 95 $600-$850 90
Spring 2010 $1,250-$1,625 - $310-$490 - $110-$180 - - $250 60 $400 70
- - - - - - - $750 85 $450 80
- - - - - - - - - $700 90
Fall 2010 $1,575 - $245-$290 - $125-$200 $22,000 95 $750-$1,300 85 $750 80
- - - - - - - $3,000-$4,000 95 $950 95
Spring 2011 - - $325-$450 - $100-$160 - - $2,070 85XQ $475 70
- 90J $1,250 90J - - - - - $4,750 95J
Fall 2011 - - $340 - $140-$200 $8,500-$9,500 90 $550 80 $250 90
- - - - - - - $1,600 90 $1,600 95
2012 $1,350 90 $240-$660 - $100-$315 - - $1,100-$1,200 90 - -
- - - - - - - $2,700 95 - -
- - - - - - - $6,500 98 - -
2013 - - - - - - - - - - -
2014 - - - - - - - - - - -
2015 - - - - - - - - - - -
2016 - - - - - - - - - - -

Statistics

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

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

241

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.

Quantity Issued: 55,050.

Color: Salmon or dark salmon.

Common use: The $1 Columbian is often seen on its own on covers, mostly for philatelic use, it is rarely seen in combination with other values. The genuine uses are for paying the registered fee on higher rate foreign destinations.

239

241

241 cover

The Inspiration for the Design

The design is a based on a painting of Isabella Presenting her Jewels by Munoz Degrain, the painting now hangs in one of the legislative chambers at Madrid.

Muna Degrain

King Ferdinand objected to the expense required to fit out a fleet for Columbus, because the treasury had been exhausted by the war with the Moors. With a woman's enthusiasm, Isabella exclaimed: "I will undertake the enterprise for my own Crown of Castile, and will pledge my jewels to raise the necessary funds!"

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 ink was not very stable and this stamp loses it vibrancy easily, particularly used copies, see below.


A faded $1

241 US Postage Stamps
The Worlds Fair Exposition Cancellation

Varieties to look for

The color ranges from Salmon to Dark Salmon. 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

241 essay

241P1 Proof Stamp US Postage Stamps

241 P1
Large Die Proof on India

241 Proof US Postage Stamps
241 P2
Small Die Proof on India
Mounted on grey card
From the Roosevelt Album

241 US Proof Stamp
241 P4
Plate Proof on Card Stock

President William McKinley was assinated in the Music Building whilst visiting the expo. An excellent entry on this event can be found here in Wikipedia.