The Value of the Stamp



$3 - Yellow green or pale yellow green
Scott #243 - 1893
Issued: Jan 2nd 1893 but first placed on sale at
the Columbian Exposition on Jan 3rd 1893

  NY Auction Houses
  MNH MH Graded Used MNH Graded MH Graded Used Graded
Spring 2004 - $900-$1,100 - $300-$350 - - - - - -
Fall 2004 - $600-$700 - $200-$300 - - - - - -
Spring 2005 - $550-$1,350 - $300-$425 $23,000 - - - - -
Fall 2005 $1,400-$1,500 $500-$975 - $250 - - - - - -
Spring 2006 $1,100-$1,400 $800 - $280-$625 $14,000 98 - - - -
Fall 2006 - $710-$750 - - - - $5,000 90J - -
Spring 2007 - $610-$1,010 - $480 - - - - - -
Fall 2007 - $625 - $290-$335 - - - - - -
Spring 2008 - - - $355-$1,100 $15,500 90 - - - -
Fall 2008 - $500-$510 - $205-$330 - - $1,300 80J - -
- - - - - - $950 85 - -
- - - - - - $2,400 90 - -
- - - - - - $4,750 95 - -
Spring 2009 $560-$580 $430-$530 - - $3,250 80 $525-$600 70 $450 75
- $1,225 80 - $11,000 90 $1,000 80 $925-$1,300 90
- - - - $25,000 95 $5,500 95 - -
- - - - - - $7,500-$10,000 98 - -
Fall 2009 - $725 - $300-$380 - - $1,900 85 $5,750 95
- $765 75 - - - $3,000-$4,500 95 - -
- $1,925 90 - - - - - - -
Spring 2010 - $570-$810 - $285-$710 $10,500 90 $1,100 80 $700 80
- - - - - - $3,250-$3,500 95 $900-$1,100 85
- - - - - - $11,500 98J $1,500 90
- - - - - - - - $6,250 98
Fall 2010 $2,595 $745-$790 - $300-$490 - - $2,500 90 $1,500 85
- - - - - - $5,500 95 $1,300 90
- - - - - - - - $3,500 95
Spring 2011 $780-$2,205 $500 - - - - $1,500 90 - -
Fall 2011 - $600-$1,000 - $400-$415 - - $3,750 95 $3,500 95
2012 - - - $260-$890 - - $2,050 90 $1,300 90
- - - - - - $4,000 95 $3,250 95
- - - - - - $6,750 98J - -
2013 - - - - - - - - - -
2014 - - - - - - - - - -
2015 - - - - - - - - - -
2016 - - - - - - - - - -


$3 - Olive green
Scott #243a - 1893

  NY Auction Houses
  Used MNH Graded MH Graded Used Graded
Spring 2006 - - - $1,100 - - -
Fall 2006 - - - - - - -
Spring 2007 - - - - - - -
Fall 2007 - - - $8,500 85 - -
Spring 2008 - - - - - - -
Fall 2008 - - - $1,700 80 - -
Spring 2009 - $12,000 90 $800 - - -
Fall 2009 - - - $1,450 85 - -
- - - $4,250 95 - -
Spring 2010 - - - - - - -
Fall 2010 - - - - - - -
Spring 2011 - - - - - $3,500 95
Fall 2011 - $4,750 85 $8,000 98 $1,700 90XQ
2012 $385 - - - - - -
2013 - - - - - - -
2014 - - - - - - -

Statistics

Issued: The $3 Columbian was officially was issued on January, 1st 1893, a Sunday, and at Post Offices the following day.


Earliest known use of #243

Plate Size:Sheets of 100 subjects (2 panes of 50). There are no plates or sheets left in existence. Only four plate blocks are left.

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: Yellow green, pale yellow green and olive green.

Usage: The $3 Columbian is often seen on its own on covers, mostly for philatelic use, it is rarely seen in combination with other values. It is often seen with the registered fee cancel.

243 cover

Quantity Issued: 27,650

The Inspiration for the Design

The design was based on the painting by Jover 'Columbus Before the Catholic Kings'


"Columbus before the Catholic Kings"
Frances Jover

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.

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.

Varieties to look for

The color has a wide range of hues, from yellow green through to olive green. There are the occasional double transfers.

The Essay's and Proofs


243-E2
Print vignette essay
Stiff card

243 p1
243-P1
Large Die Proof on card

243 P4 US Stamp Proof

243-P4
Plate Proof on Card Stock

 



The Ferris wheel at the Columbian Exposition