The 1895 Bureau Series
Watermarked Double Lined letters - USPS

The Value of the Stamp



President James A Garfield (biography)
6c - Dull brown or claret brown
Scott #271 - Double line USPS wmk - 1895

 
NY Auction Houses
 
MNH
MH
Used
MNH
Graded
Spring 2003
-
-
-
$200-$300
-
Fall 2003
-
-
-
-
-
Spring 2004
-
$10-$15
< $1
-
-
Fall 2004
-
$7-$10
< $1
-
-
Spring 2005
-
$10-$20
< $1
$525
-
Fall 2005
$160
$20-$35
< $1
$290
-
Spring 2006
-
$25-$50
< $1
$4,000
95
Fall 2006
-
$10
$1-$4
$400
85
Spring 2007
-
$20
$1-$5
$4,250
95
Fall 2007
-
$28-$55
-
$250
80
-
-
-
$1,800
90
Spring 2008
-
$12-$20
$1-$3
$725
85J
Fall 2008
$100
$20-$22
-
$2,900-$4,000
95
Spring 2009
$50
$18-$23
$1-$2
$750
90
Fall 2009
-
$10-$13
-
$3,750
95J
Spring 2010
$85-$150
$19-$40
$1-$4
-
-
Fall 2010
-
-
-
-
-
Spring 2011
-
-
-
-
-



6c - Dull brown or claret brown
Scott #271a  - USIR watermark - 1895
15 copies exist of which seven are original gum

 
NY Auction Houses
 
MH
Graded
Fall 2008
$10,000
-
Spring 2009
$15,000
-
Fall 2009
-
-
Spring 2010
-
-
Fall 2010
-
-
Spring 2011
-
-

Facts and Statistics


Issued: Issued August 31st 1895. Earliest recorded date of use, September 14th 1895

Plate Size: Sheets of 400 subjects (4 panes of 100)

Printer: The Bureau of Printing and Engraving

Watermark: USPS, double lined, see below

Quantity Issued: 20,700,000.

DETAILED FACTS AND FIGURES

The Post Office report from 1899 supplies one with almost every detail you would wish to know about this stamp, and every other stamp in this series. The level of detail is amazing. Click here for more on this report



A full sheet of #271

What you should look for


The stamps were watermarked USPS and part of one of the three letters will be visible (sometimes barely so) when immersing the stamp in watermark fluid using a simple black watermark tray. By the way, you really have to believe you have got a valuable stamp before investing the $20 it costs to buy the afore mentioned items. You could use the cheaper alternative, Ronosol Lighter fluid, however, unlike watermark fluid, it is highly inflammable and dangerous to use, plus it stinks the house up.

Look for part of one of the above letters in the watermark
Remember, the letters have to be double lined. If single
lined then go here to identify your stamp

This was the first instance of the Bureau applying a watermark, it was applied to make counterfeiting more difficult. It is not known if the Bureau had anticipated the Chicago Counterfeits or added the watermark because of them. The story of the Chicago Counterfeit can be found on the page for Scotts #248.

As this was the Bureau of Printing and Engraving contract a small triangle was cut into the design at top left and top right. This distinguishes it from the earlier 1890.



The Inspiration for the Design


The source photograph of James Garfield is shown below, followed by the Bureau of Engravings Master Die of the President, folllowe by the design used in the stamp.

Varieties to look for


THE USIR WATERMARK

The Bureau printed perhaps one sheet with the wrong watermark, they used the USIR watermark reserved for
internal revenue stamps. If you see a I or letter R in the watermark then see the price guide above for #267a. Shown
above is the only multiple of #267a .

The Making of the Stamp

 

#271P Finished Plate Proof on Stamp Paper

The Assassination of James Garfield