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

#295 first day 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: 210,000,000, it paid the standard letter rate at the time.

Vignette Shifts

The 2¢ has the most vignette shifts of all this series, probably explained by the fact that this was the most common stamp and as such registration of the vignette was not a big deal. One has to remember that this was the bureau's first attempt at bi-color stamps, it was supposed to have been the Trans-Mississippi series but that venture was cancelled at the last moment.

Shown below are some vignette shifts, the first, a dramatic shift to the bottom, the so called low train variety, was sold for $900. Less dramatic shifts add a lot less to the value of the stamp.

A dramatic shift

Less Dramatic Shifts

Vignette shifts, when to the left are called the 'fast train' variety and to the right, the 'slow train' variety.

This issue offers the collecter an easy source of printing errors, see an example of a paper fold below.

Printing error caused by a paper fold

The source for the design was the postcard above, which in turn used its source as the photograph above. The train shown is the Empire State Express of the New York Central and Hudson River Railroad. The fastest train in the world. The photograph was taken during its record breaking run and is shows the engine in full steam.

This series celebrated modern transportation. The Empire State Express (#999) was the new breed of steam engine of which America was justly proud. It was fast, for the time, posting a speed of 82mph (there is an unofficial record of 112mph!) and able to travel 143 miles without stopping. This train was famous in its time, and was called the 'old 999' or the "Queen of Speed". It should be noted that at the time riding this train was the fastest man could travel, the Wright Brothers did not attempt their first flight until 1903.

The Empire State Express before it's installment in the Chicago Museum of Science and Industry.

 

Unique block of the invert (295a)
Spring 2009 auction: $800,000

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.

#295-E4A
Essay on India
Mounted on card
Vignette only

#294-E5
Essay on India
Mounted on card
Frame only design

#294-P1
Die Proof on India
Die sunk on card