The 1894 Bureau Series

The Value of the Stamp


Commodore Matthew Perry (bio)
$1 - Grayish black or black
Type I
The circle enclosing $1 are broken
Scott #261 - Un-watermarked - 1894

 
NY Auction Houses
 
MNH
MH
Used
Graded
MNH
Graded
MH
Graded
Spring 2003
-
-
-
-
-
-
$1,500-$3,750
-
Fall 2003
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Spring 2004
-
$100-$130
$30-$40
-
-
-
-
-
Fall 2004
-
$180-$200
$50-$80
-
-
-
-
-
Spring 2005
-
$230-$330
-
-
-
-
-
-
Fall 2005
-
-
$45-$60
-
-
-
$2,100
-
Spring 2006
-
$290-$675
$45-$100
-
-
-
$2,000
95
Fall 2006
-
$290
$80
-
-
-
-
-
Spring 2007
-
-
$35-$50
-
-
-
$1,450
90
Fall 2007
-
-
$50-$105
-
-
-
-
-
Spring 2008
-
-
$75-$85
-
-
-
-
-
Fall 2008
-
-
$120
-
-
-
$800
80
Spring 2009
$935
$150-$320
$65-$100
-
-
-
$400
85
-
-
-
-
-
-
$1,300
90
-
-
-
-
-
-
$750
95
Fall 2009
-
-
$40-$150
-
$18,500
98J
$1,400
90
-
-
$670
90
-
-
-
-
Spring 2010
-
$195-$350
$50-$70
-
-
-
$575
85
-
-
-
-
-
-
$1,200
90
Fall 2010
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Spring 2011
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-

Facts and Statistics


Issued: Replaced the 1890 90c value. Earliest recorded date of use, January 18th, 1895,

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

Printer: The Bureau of Printing and Engraving, their first contract

Watermark: None

Quantity Issued: 26,284

What you should look for

 


Infrequently required the $1 stamp was sometimes required on heavy parcels or overweight letters to foreign destinations, which meant heavy cancels, as seen below. Clean or light cancels add a premium to the value.

The Inspiration for the Design


The old 90 cents gave way to a new $1, the profile of Perry being transferred to the new value

The two new 1894 values, the 50c and the $1 did not have new engravings of presidential heads, they just recycled the 1870 engravings.

The original 1870 design of Perry was based on Walcotts bust, of which I am unable to find an image. Below is shown a similar marble bust of Perry by Erastus Dow Palmer, a contemporary of Walcott.

Shown below is a version, that very nearly made it as the default Jefferson bust to be used. Next to it is one of the many essays of the final 1870 version.

Commodore Matthew Perry (1794 -1858)

Varieties to look for


There are no varieties of #261

The Making of the Stamp



261-E1
Large Die Essay on India
Die Sunk on 49 x 60mm card

261-E2
Large Die Essay on India
Die Sunk on 61 x 101mm card



261-E3
Paste Up Essay on India
Die Sunk on 63 x 102mm card
Black frame and blue green vignette pasted onto design


261-E4
Large Die Essay on India
No triangles, dark blue indigo.

261-E4A
Large Die Essay on India
with triangles, blue green.

261-E5
Large Die Essay on India
Die sunk on card

261-E6
Large Die Essay on India
Die sunk on card


Senator James B. Beck
261-E7
Large Die Essay on India
Die Sunk on Card
Unadopted design

Portrait of Senator James B. Beck

261-TC1
Large Trial Color Proof on India
Die sunk on card


>