The 1890 Series

The Value of the Stamp


Andrew Jackson (biography)
3c - Purple
No Triangles in Corners (see below)
Scott #221 - 1890

 
NY Auction Houses
 
MNH
MH
Used
MNH
Graded
MH
Graded
Spring 2003
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Fall 2003
-
-
-
$250-$375
-
-
-
Spring 2004
-
$15-$20
< $1
-
-
-
-
Fall 2004
-
$10-$15
< $1
-
-
-
-
Spring 2005
-
$15-$18
< $1
-
-
-
-
Fall 2005
-
$20-$35
$1-$2
$500-$725
-
-
-
Spring 2006
-
$10-$40
$1
$3,000
95
-
-
Fall 2006
$60
$10-$18
$1-$4
$1,350
95
$410
95J
Spring 2007
$50-$100
$9-$35
< $1
-
-
-
-
Fall 2007
-
$10-$16
$1
-
-
-
-
Spring 2008
$100
$15-$19
$1-$2
-
-
-
-
Fall 2008
-
$13-$20
< $1
$300
85
$130
90
-
-
-
$525
90J
$120
90J
Spring 2009
-
$13-$35
$1-$2
$1,500
95
-
-
Fall 2009
-
$13
$1-$2
$1,150
95
-
-
Spring 2010
$50-$135
$17-$35
-
-
-
$425
95
Fall 2010
$50-$100
$20-$45
$1-$2
$9,500
98
-
-
Spring 2011
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Fall 2011
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Spring 2012
-
-
-
-
-
-
-

3c - Purple
Imperforate - Scott #221a - 1890
MNH pair $210-$575

Statistics


Issued: 22nd February 1890, earliest recorded example is 28th February, 1890

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

Printer: The American Bank Note Company

Watermark: None

Quantity Issued: 46,877,250

What you should look for

 

Without knowing it, the 1890 series was to be the American Bank Note Company's (ABN Co.) last printing of postage stamps. Until the flag overun series of the forties all stamps after this series were to be printed by the Bureau of printing and engraving.

On the left is shown the detail of a stamp from the 1890 series, note the absence of a triangle in the top left hand corner of the design. All the Bureau issues had a triangle cut into the design as shown on the right.

You will also notice the tremendous difference in quality between the two stamps. By 1890 the ABN Co. had perfected the art of printing postage stamps and it shows by the even ink sharp design and clean perforations. Contrast this with the spotty faded ink and uneven perforations on the Bureau's stamp on the right.

The Inspiration for the Design


The design was taken from the portrait bust of Jefferson by Jean Antoine Houdon. Now at Boston's Museum of Fine Arts.

Varieties to look for


There are no known varieties.

The Making of the Stamp




220-E2
Die Essay on India
Purple

221-P1
Large Die Proof on India
Die Sunk on Card


221-TC1
Trial Color Proof

220-P4
Plate proof on india
Die sunk on card

 

 


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