#210 1883 2¢

Basic Information

Color: Red Brown
Subject: George Washington
Paper: Soft porous paper
Printing method: line-engraved intaglio on flat plates
Printer: American Bank Note Co.
Perforations: 12
Scott #: 210
Quantity issued: 4,490,699,200
Issued: October 1st, 1883

Value

An unused stamp with perfect gum: $50-$70
An unused stamp with gum and a hinge mark: $4-$8
A used stamp: $1-$3

A new design

A full pane of #210

The change in design from the previous US stamp to #210 was primarily prompted by a major reduction in first-class mail rates.

Reasons for the Design Change:
Rate Reduction: On October 1, 1883, the postage rate for first-class letters was reduced from 3 cents to 2 cents per half ounce.
Need for a New Vignette: Ever since 1851 the design of the standard first class rate stamp, George Washington was the subject of the vignette. This meant shifting George Washington from the 3¢ stamp to the 2¢ stamp. Andrew Jackson had been used as the vignette on the 2¢ stamp and, so as not to neglect him, he was used as the vignette on the new 4¢ value (#211)

Key Details of the 1883 Change:
Designation: The 1883 #210 was part of a broader shift in 19th-century American philately to update stamp denominations to match U.P.U. (Universal Postal Union) standards and domestic law.
Predecessor/Replacement: The 3-cent green Washington stamp was heavily used prior to this, and this change shifted the 2-cent denomination to the primary, high-volume stamp, paving the way for the later "Small Bank Notes" in 1890.
Color Shift: While initially issued in red-brown, the 2-cent Washington was later changed to green (#213) in 1887, following a trend of changing stamp colors.

The 1883 series was a critical transition towards simplifying the postal rate system by focusing on a 2-cent standard for first-class mail.

Usage

#210 first day cover, dated October 1st, 1883

#210 was primarily used to pay the first-class letter rate for a single-weight letter, which had recently been reduced from 3¢ to 2¢, effective October 1, 1883. It was also used for postcards, double-rate postcards, and drop letters (local mail)

Fancy Cancels

Locomotive
South Hanson, MA
Padlock
Stoneham, MA
1885
Stoneham, MA
Skull and cross bones
Stoneham, MA
Skull and cross bones
Shield
Leavenworth, KS
Head in Frame
US Mail

Plates

#210 was issued with the following plate #'s

430-455, 458-463, 466-474, 476-479, A 483-487, B 490-494, E 507-511, F 512-516, G 517-521, H 522-526, J 532-536 , N 553-557, O 558-562, P 563-567, Q 568-572, U 588-592, V 593-597

The Inspiration for the Design

George Washington bust by Jean-Antoine Houdon

Often referred to as the ‘Washington flag stamp’, the vignette was based on a bust of George Washington by french sculptor Jean-Antoine Houdon.

Created in 1785 the bust is considered the most accurate likeness of the first U.S. president. Based on a life mask and clay model made at Mount Vernon, it captures Washington at age 53 with precise facial details, blending a Roman, toga-style aesthetic with realistic aging. It is considered one of the most accurate representations of Washington.