Scotts #259 US stamps

#259 - 1894 Unwatermarked 15¢

15¢
Dark blue or Indigo
Triangles in Corner

Subject: Henry Clay
Number issued: 1,583,920
Perforations: 12
Watermark: Unwatermarked
Scott #: 259
Issued: November 19th, 1894
Earliest date of use: December 6th, 1894

Value

Used
$5 - $20
No postmark with gum (MH)
$50 - $100
Full perfect gum, no postmark
no trace of stamp hinge mark (MNH)
$180 - $300

Inspiration for the design

The source photograph used for the design.

Plate #'s

#259 was issued with the following plate #'s

52

Triangles in the corner

As this was the Bureau of Printing and Engraving contract a small triangle was cut into the design at top left and top right in order to distinguish this printing from the earlier 1890 series

A rarity to look out for

Top margin plate numbers are extremely rare as the Bureau removed the top margin from almost all the sheets

Usage

The 15¢ paid the registered rate for foreign mail. The registered cancel and the parcel post cancellations tend to be heavy, finding a used copy with a light cancellation should double the value.