The 1898 Bureau Series
Watermarked Double Lined letters - USPS

The Value of the Stamp


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

  NY Auction Houses
  MNH Graded 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 $20-$115 - $4-$8 $1-$3 - - -
Spring 2011 $19-$25 - $10-$14 $1-$3 - - -
$160 85 - - - - -
Fall 2011 $35-$65 - $6--$14 - - - -
2012 $28-$70 - $5-$18 $1-$3 - $850 95
2013 - - - - - - -
2014 - - - - - - -
2015 - - - - - - -
2016 - - - - - - -

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 5¢.

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, 5¢ was the
rate for registered letters at the time. Stamps
with a light cancel are more desirable.


Porto Rico Cover canceled with Steamship cancel

The 5¢ 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 Essay's and Proofs

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