Issued: Introduced on May 1st, 1901. Earliest documented use is the same date.

The unique example of #294a (the invert) on cover

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

A full pane of 100

Printer: The Bureau of Printing and Engraving

Watermark: Double lined USPS watermark.

Quantity Issued: 91,000,000, it paid the one cent post card rate at the time.

Vignette Shifts

Vignette shifts are much sought after by collectors, its almost a challenge to see how far you can find the vignette shifted out of the frame. Having said this the shifts do not add that much value to the stamp.

Vignette shifted to the left, the so called 'FAST BOAT' variety

Vignette shifted to the right, the so called 'SLOW BOAT' variety

Vignette shifted to the bottom, the so called "SINKING BOAT" variety

This steamship, 'The City of Alpena' was the ship portrayed in the design

This photograph of the
SS City of Buffalo of the Cleveland and Buffalo Line
was used to aid in the design

The theme of the 1901 stamps was modern navigation. The theme of the 1c stamp was fast lake Navigtion, referring to the small high speed steamers that plied between the great lake ports. Previously side wheel steamers had filled the role, they were unsuited to the tough weather conditions, in fact the previous "City of Alpena" was lost with all aboard in a storm in 1880. The Alpena was of a small size so it could navigate the St Lawrenece seaway and have access to New England and the maritime ports.

 

The largest multiple of #294a, with inverted vignette

The Ultramar overprint

The Portuguese Ministry for the Colonies was originally supplied with 25 Specimen stamps. They overprinted the specimens with the "Ultramar" overprint, meaning "overseas", the stamps were distributed to the various colonies.

#294 E2
Essay on India
Reduction of Frame drawing

#294 E2 variety
Essay on India
Reduction of Frame drawing

294 P1
Large Die Proof