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The 1893 Columbians

The Value of the Stamp


$4 - Crimson lake
Scott #244

 
NY Auction Houses
 
Spring 2004
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$600-$800
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Fall 2004
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$675-$875
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-
-
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Spring 2005
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$1,000-$1,400
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$625
$10,500
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-
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Fall 2005
$1,500-$2,000
$1,300
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$350-$400
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-
-
-
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Spring 2006
$1,500-$1,800
$2,000
-
$400-$600
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$3,500
85
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-
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-
-
-
-
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$10,000
95J
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Fall 2006
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$1,400-$2,400
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$405-$690
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$5,000
90
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Spring 2007
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$1,030
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$390-$500
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Fall 2007
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$1,500
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$455
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$2,000
85
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Spring 2008
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-
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$440-$500
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-
-
-
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Fall 2008
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$1,000
-
$345-$500
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$2,100-$2,600
90
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-
-
-
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$6,250
95
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Spring 2009
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$995
-
$450-$475
$13,000
90
$600
50
$750
80
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-
-
-
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$1,400-$1,600
80
$2,200
90
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$2,600
90
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$3,500
95
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Fall 2009
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-
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$435
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$4,250
95
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Spring 2010
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$910
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$405-$910
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$9,000
98
$850
80
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$6,100
95
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-
-
-
-
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Fall 2010
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$730-$800
-
-
$32,500
95
$2,400
85
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Spring 2011
-
$1,490-$1,500
-
$1,500
-
-
$2,200
85
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-
-
-
-
-
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$2,900
90
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-
-
-
-
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$3,500
95
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Fall 2011
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$1,150
-
-
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$1,500-$2,900
90
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Spring 2012
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Fall 2012
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-
-
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Spring 2013
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Fall 2013
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Spring 2014
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$4 - Rose carmine
Scott #244a
This shade requires a certificate

 
NY Auction Houses
 
Fall 2004
-
-
-
-
$2,200-$3,200
-
Fall 2008
$1,950
-
-
-
$2,800
90
Spring 2009
$800-$2,250
-
-
-
$1,400
80
-
-
-
-
$5,750
95
Fall 2009
-
-
$5,500
80
$5,250
95
Spring 2010
-
-
-
-
$4,500
90
Fall 2011
-
-
-
-
-
-
Spring 2011
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$1,490
-
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$2,700
90
Fall 2011
-
-
-
-
$4,250
90
Spring 2012
-
-
-
-
-
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Fall 2012
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-
-
-
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Spring 2013
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-
-
-
-
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Fall 2013
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-
-
-
-
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Spring 2014
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-
-
-
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Statistics


Issued: Jan 2nd 1893 but first placed on sale at the Columbian Exposition on Jan 3rd 1893. The earliest recorded use is March 24, 1893. Cover shown below.

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: 26,350

The Inspiration for the Design


 


The design for Isabella was derived, or should I say adapted, from a 1497 Oil painting by Bartolomé Bermejo. Columbus was derived from a 1512 portrait by Lorenzo Lotto and is a little less stylized than Isabella's portrait.

What you should look for


PRONE TO FADING!
This stamp is very prone to fading, keep out of direct sunlight. Most examples are faded and this will detract from the value.

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.

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.


Varieties to look for


The color ranges from Crimson Lake to pale Analine Rose to Rose Carmine. The stamp fades easily so try and avoid purchasing the dull carmine copies as this was not the original color. There are the occassional double transfers.

The Essay's and Proofs



244 P3
Plate Proof on India


For 179 days the World's Columbian Exposition created the illusion of a beautiful, orderly White City.
The gleam of the fair buildings was due to a plasterlike coating called staff.

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