#222 1890 4¢ Small Bank Note

Basic Information

Color: Dark Brown
Subject: Abraham Lincoln
Paper: Soft porous paper
Printing method: line-engraved intaglio on flat plates
Printer: American Bank Note Co.
Perforations: 12
Scott #: 222
Quantity issued: 66,759,475
Issued: June 2, 1890

Value

An unused stamp with perfect gum: $60-$130
An unused stamp with gum and a hinge mark: $10-$20
A used stamp: 75¢-$2

About the small bank note stamps

A pane of #222
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

A pair of #222 paying 8¢ registration rate

The 4¢ stamp was commonly used to pay the double rate for 1 ounce rate and was used in combination with other stamps to pay a higher rate. IT was often used as a pair to pay the 8¢ registration rate before the 8¢ stamp was issued in 1893.

Plates

#222 was issued with the following plate #'s

J 51-55, MM 200-204

The Inspiration for the Design

Photo of Abraham Lincoln by Mathew Brady

The vignette on the original is based on a photograph of Abraham Lincoln taken by Mathew B. Brady. This is different from the Brady photograph used in previous Lincoln stamps.