Basic Information
Color: Red Brown
Subject: Andrew Jackson
Paper: Hard white wove paper
Printing method: line-engraved
intaglio on flat plates
Printer: National Bank Note Co
Perforations: 12
Plate #’s: 12-15, 28, 34-35, 45-47
Grills: H or I grill (see below)
Scott #: 135 (H grill) 135A (I grill)
Quantity issued: 40,000,000 (estimate)
Issued: April 12th, 1870
Value
An unused stamp with perfect gum: H grill $525-$700 I grill $700
An unused stamp with gum and a hinge mark: H grill $90-$150 I grill $450-$500
A used stamp: H grill $12-$21 I grill $85-$120
About the large bank note stamps
A National Bank notes from 1870
Click image to enlarge
"Large Bank Note" stamps refers to a major definitive series of postage stamps issued between 1870 and 1890. They are called "Bank Notes" because they were produced under contract by three private security printing firms—the National, Continental, and American Bank Note Companies—before the Bureau of Engraving and Printing took over production in 1894.
Key Characteristics
Size: They are called "Large" to distinguish them from the "Small Bank Notes" (or "Baby Bank Notes") issued from 1890 to 1894, which were reduced in size to cut production costs.
Paper and Grills: Early issues (National) often feature "grills" (embossed patterns intended to prevent reuse), while later issues moved from hard paper (National and Continental) to soft porous paper (American).
Secret Marks: To identify which company printed which stamp, "secret marks" (tiny design modifications) were often added to the original plates when contracts changed hands.
Historical Timeline
National Bank Note Co. (1870–1873): The original printers who introduced the designs.
Continental Bank Note Co. (1873–1879): Took over the contract and added secret marks to the 1¢ through 15¢ denominations.
American Bank Note Co. (1879–1890): After merging with Continental, they printed the same designs on soft porous paper and later introduced re-engraved versions with slightly modified details.
Grills (H, I and J grills)
H Grill 11-13 x 14-16 points 10 x 12mm
I Grill 10-11 x 10-13 points 8½ x 10mm
Click image to enlarge
The grills as they appear on the stamp
Click image to enlarge
It is common to see only a partial grill
Click image to enlarge
The H grill (#135)
The H grill is often confused with the I grill. If a grill measures roughly 10 x 12 mm, it is generally considered an H grill, while smaller ones are I grills. If an identification cannot be firmly made, the default classification is usually the H grill, as it is generally more common than the I grill.
The I grill (#135A)
It is small, typically measuring 8½ x 10mm with 10 vertical rows. Examples, such as on the 30-cent stamp, are extremely rare.
Usage
#135 used on a cover to France
#135 was primarily used to pay the drop letter rate (letters for local delivery), the postage for printed circulars, or in combination with other stamps for higher rates.
Primary Usage: Primarily intended for mail delivered within the same city or local area (drop letter rate).
Secondary Usage: Frequently used on circulars and newspapers.
Shades of the red brown 2¢ and the reasons behind them
The high number of shades found on the US 2¢ Andrew Jackson "Bank Note" stamps (such as #135) is primarily due to the inconsistent production methods and environmental vulnerabilities of 19th-century printing. Because of this I would advise attempting to identify the large banknote 2¢ stamp by its color. The shade of red-brown does not affect its value.
While the official colour for these issues is often listed as red-brown, collectors frequently encounter a vast spectrum ranging from bright to dull hues.
Key Reasons for Shade Variations
Manual Ink Mixing: In the 1870s, inks were mixed by hand in large batches. Small differences in the ratio of pigments, oils, and dryers between print runs led to noticeable shifts in the final shade of blue.
Multiple Printing Companies: The "Bank Note" series was produced by three different companies over nearly two decades: National Bank Note Co. (1870–1873), Continental Bank Note Co. (1873–1879), and American Bank Note Co. (1879 onwards). Each company used its own ink formulas and printing equipment, further diversifying the available shades.
Ink and Paper Sensitivity: The red-brown pigments used during this era were highly susceptible to environmental changes. Factors such as humidity, temperature in the press room (which affected ink thickness), and exposure to sunlight (fading) have altered the stamps' appearance over the last 150 years. Some plates received heavier or lighter applications, changing the final shade.
The Inspiration for the Design
Bust of Andrew Jackson by Hiram Powers
The design was taken from the portrait bust of Andrew Jackson by Hiram Powers. Now at Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.
Model Origin: The image used was a direct adaptation of the realistic neoclassical bust sculpted from life by Hiram Powers in 1834–1835, which portrayed Jackson in his late sixties as "Old Hickory".
Design Characteristics: The portrait was chosen for its stark realism, showing Jackson’s sunken cheeks and wrinkles.
Context: This design was the follow-up to the 1863 "Black Jack" stamp, continuing to use Jackson as the portrait for 2-cent mailings, which were frequently used for newspapers, magazines, and drop letters.