#219 1890 1¢ Small Bank Note

Basic Information

Color: Dull blue
Subject: Benjamin Franklin
Paper: Soft porous paper
Printing method: line-engraved intaglio on flat plates
Printer: American Bank Note Co.
Perforations: 12
Scott #: 219
Quantity issued: 2,206,093,450
Issued: February 22nd, 1890

Value

An unused stamp with perfect gum: $7-$14
An unused stamp with gum and a hinge mark: $3-$6
A used stamp: 25¢-50¢

About the small bank note stamps

A pane of #219
Click the image to enlarge

“Small Bank Note" stamps refers to the last, and only, definitive series printed solely by the America Bank Note Company in 1894, hence the name bank note series. The printing of this series was taken over by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing in 1895. The Bureau added a triangle to the corner of the stamps to differentiate the 1895 from the 1894 series.

They are called "Small" to distinguish them from the "Large Bank Notes" issued from 1870 to 1893, as the 1894 stamps were reduced in size to cut production costs.

The Candle Variety

A printing flaw created an area without ink to the right of the right figure 1. The flaw somewhat resembles a candle in a candle holder.

Usage

#219 earliest date of use, February 27th, 1890

#219 was primarily used for paying the postage on drop letters, circulars, and newspapers/periodicals

Drop Letters: Letters delivered within the same post office where they were mailed (if not sent to a carrier-delivery office).
Third-Class Mail: Used on circulars, newspapers, and periodicals (often mailed by publishers or news agents).
Multiples: Used in multiples or in combination with other denominations to fulfill higher postage rates, such as advertising matter

Shades of the blue 1¢ and the reasons behind them

The high number of shades found on the US 1¢ Benjamin Franklin "Bank Note" stamps (such as #219) is primarily due to the inconsistent production methods and environmental vulnerabilities of 19th-century printing. The shade of blue does not affect its value.
While the official colour for these issues is often listed as dull blue, collectors frequently encounter a vast spectrum ranging from bright to dull hues.

Key Reasons for Shade Variations
Manual Ink Mixing: In the 1890s, 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.
Ink and Paper Sensitivity: The blue 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 130 years.
Chemical Reactions ("Changelings"): Some variations are not original but are "changelings" caused by chemical exposure. For instance, exposure to sulfur or acidic album pages can cause oxidation, turning certain blue or green inks darker.

Plates

#219 was issued with the following plate #'s

C 11-15, G 36-40, Q 89-93, BB 145-149, FF 165-169, UU 240-244, C1 280-284, D1 285-289, F1 295-299

The Inspiration for the Design

Benjamin Franklin bust by Jean-Antoine Houdon

The design of the orginal 1869 1¢ stamp with this vignette (#112) was inspired by a sculpture of Benjamin Franklin by Jean-Antoine Houdon, which is currently located in the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts in Philadelphia.

It has been much debated whether Franklin actually sat for Houdon or if the sculptor captured his vividly accurate image from mere passing acquaintance. He would have had ample opportunity to observe the American minister at the Masonic lodge of the Nine Sisters to which they, as well as many other artists and patrons in the expatriate community (e.g., Count Stroganov; see Voltaire and Diderot), belonged. This cleanly truncated version, in modern dress, was clearly preferred by contemporary American statesmen and anticipates George Washington's insistence that Houdon work on the statue of him