#215 1887 4¢

Basic Information

Color: Carmine
Subject: Andrew Jackson
Paper: Soft porous paper
Printing method: line-engraved intaglio on flat plates
Printer: American Bank Note Co.
Perforations: 12
Scott #: 215
Quantity issued: 28,000,000
Issued: November 21st, 1888

Value

An unused stamp with perfect gum: $180-$260
An unused stamp with gum and a hinge mark: $15-$45
A used stamp: $4-$7

A change of color

A pane of #215
Click image to enlarge

In 1893 the standard first class rate for ½ ounce letters was dropped from 3¢ to 2¢. This created a need for a stamp for double-weight, 1 ounce, letters. There had not been a 4¢ stamp prior to this point.

The previous 2¢ stamps had featured Andrew Jackson as the subject of the vignette. The new 2¢ stamp swapped out Andrew Jackson with George Washington. Not wishing to elimate Andrew Jackson image from US stamps he was chosen as the vignette for the new 4¢ value.

Rather confusingly green was chosen for the color of the new 4¢ stamp (#211). This had recently been the standard color of a first class stamp and led many to believe that the 4¢ stamp was now to be used for standard first class letters. To clear up this confusion, five years later the color of this stamp was changed to this carmine.

Usage

#215 earliest date of use, January 18th, 1889

#215 was primarily used to pay the double-weight first-class letter rate, effective October 1, 1883. It was also used in combination with other stamps to pay higher rates. Interestingly, the cover above paid what the sender thought was the old double-weight letter rate of 6¢, not realising that as of the day they posted the letter the single 4¢ stamp would have sufficed.

Plates

#215 was issued with the following plate #'s

L 542-546

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