The 1898 Bureau Series
Watermarked Double Lined letters - USPS

The Value of the Stamp


Ulysses S Grant (biography)
5c - Dark blue, bright blue or blue 
Double line USPS wmk. - Scott #281 - 1897

 
NY Auction Houses
 
MNH
MH
Used
Graded
MNH
Graded
Spring 2003
-
-
-
-
-
-
Fall 2003
-
-
-
-
-
-
Spring 2004
-
$11-$25
< $1
-
-
-
Fall 2004
$30-$40
$5-$10
< $1
-
-
-
Spring 2005
$13-$50
$5-$12
< $1
-
$300
-
Fall 2005
-
$5-$17
< $1
-
$850
-
Spring 2006
-
$7-$21
$1
-
$800
95
Fall 2006
$15
$7-$14
< $1
-
$475
90
Spring 2007
$20
$9-$10
< $1
-
-
-
Fall 2007
-
$7-$11
$1
-
-
-
Spring 2008
-
$5-$19
< $1
-
$1,400
95
Fall 2008
$25-$40
$6-$13
< $1
-
$150
85
-
-
-
-
$700
95
Spring 2009
$25-$27
$6-$15
< $1
-
$400
90
Fall 2009
$13-$40
$6-$11
$1
-
$3,250
98
-
-
$35
90
$4,000
98J
Spring 2010
$25-$70
$10-$15
$1-$2
-
-
-
Fall 2010
-
-
-
-
-
-
Spring 2011
-
-
-
-
-
-

Used stamps are worth less than $1

Statistics


Issued: March 8th, 1898, earliest recorded date of use, March 19th, 1898.

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

Printer: The Bureau of Printing and Engraving

Watermark: USPS, double lined, see below

Quantity Issued: 280,000,000, twice the amount of the brown 5c.

DETAILED FACTS AND FIGURES

The color was changed from the brown of #270 to blue to conform to UPU regulations.

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

 

What you should look for


Shown above is a typical heavy registry cancel, 5c was the
rate for registered letters at the time. Stamps
with a light cancel are more desirable.


Porto Rico Cover cancelled with Steamship cancel

The 5c stamp is less interesting as a stamp than on cover. This issue has one of the most fascinating and varied amount of uses. I have not seen a #281 collection yet, although I am sure one exists. Becuase this was the time of the Spanish American War you will see a variety of associated cancels, some even with Spanish devices. You will also see Shanghai covers and covers to some unusual destinations.

 

The Inspiration for the Design


Contrary to the paucity of photographs of Lincoln, Ulysses S Grant has over 300 photographs of him. Many of them whilst a Civil War General. The design was based off this photograph. Like Lincolns representation on #254 his hair treatment was given some artistic licence.

Varieties to look for


There are no varieties of #281

The Making of the Stamp

 

281-P2a
Plate Proof produced for the 1915
Panama-Pacific Exhibition

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