#221 1890 3¢ Small Bank Note

Basic Information

Color: Purple
Subject: Andrew Jackson
Paper: Soft porous paper
Printing method: line-engraved intaglio on flat plates
Printer: American Bank Note Co.
Perforations: 12
Scott #: 221
Quantity issued: 46,877,250
Issued: February 22nd, 1890

Value

An unused stamp with perfect gum: $50-$80
An unused stamp with gum and a hinge mark: $7-$10
A used stamp: $1-$2

About the small bank note stamps

Essay #221E1
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.

Usage

Earliest recorded date of use, February 28th, 1890

The 3¢ stamp was commonly used for mail that exceeded the standard ½ ounce rate or was used in combination with other stamps to pay a higher rate.

Plates

#221 was issued with the following plate #'s

21, 22

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