5¢
Yellow brown, brown, dark brown
Subject: James Garfield
Number issued: 167,351,000
Perforations: P12
Printer: American Bank Note Co.
Paper: Soft porous paper
Scott #: 205
Date Issued: April 10th, 1882
Used
40¢ - $1
No postmark with gum (MH)
$22.50 - $60
Full perfect gum, no postmark
no trace of stamp hinge mark (MNH)
$115 - $225
Similar to Trial Color Proofs, samples were plate printed stamps in different colors and shades for the purpose of selecting a color. Value approximately $30.
Specimen overprint - value about $30
Proposed color
Issued color
The proposed color of the stamp was black.The 15¢ Lincoln mourning stamp (#77) had been issued in black, so it was natural that black should be the color mourning the recently assassinated President James Garfield. When the proof in black was shown to Mrs Garfield she objected to the black color, so it was issued in brown.
The source for the vignette was this photograph of James Garfield
#205 was issued with the following plate #'s
200 subject panes
399-400, 488-489, K 537-541
205-E2
Vignette die essay on India
205-E3a
Vignette die essay on India
205-E3
Vignette large die essay on India die sunk on card
205-E3a
Vignette large die essay on India die sunk on card
205-E3a
Vignette die essay on India
Brown
205-E3b
Vignette die essay on white glazed paper
Black
205-E3
Vignette die essay on India
Red brown
205-E3
Vignette die essay on India
Black
205-E3
Vignette die essay on India
Blue
205-E3
Vignette die essay on India
Green
205-E3
Vignette die essay on India
Dark green
205-E3
Vignette die essay on India
Orange red
205-E3
Vignette die essay on India
Dark Purple
205-E3var
Vignette die essay on India
Reverse print in white
205-TC1
Trial color essay on India
Black
205-P1
Large die proof on India
205-P2a
Roosevelt small die proof
205-P3
Plate proof on India
205-P4
Plate proof on Card
205-TC1
Trial color proof on India
Maroon
205-TC1
Trial color proof on India
Claret
205-TC1
Trial color proof on India
Blue
205-TC1
Trial color proof on India
Blue green