#259 1894 15¢ Unwatermarked

Basic Information

Color: Dark blue
Subject: Henry Clay
Paper: Soft porous paper
Printing method: line-engraved intaglio on flat plates
Printer: The Bureau of Printing and Engraving
Perforations: 12
Scott #: 259
Quantity issued: 1,583,920
Issued: October 15th, 1894

Value

An unused stamp with perfect gum: $185-$450
An unused stamp with gum and a hinge mark: $25-$75
A used stamp: $2-$7

About the small bank note stamps

Trial color
proof #259TC1

“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

#259 on a cover to present day Zimbabwe

#259’s primary use was to pay the 10¢ registration fee plus the standard 5¢ fee for foreign mail. It was also used, in combination with other stamps, to pay higher rates.

Plates

#259 was issued with the following plate #'s

52

The Inspiration for the Design

Henry Clay source photo

There was a decision made to feature historical figures in addition to the busts of past presidents. This led to the addition of Henry Clay who was a massive force in American Politics. A master at brokering deals he was able to delay the onset of the Civil War. Besides being speaker of the house for over a decade he was a supporter of high tarrif rates.