Designs of the 1894 Series – The First Bureau Issue or “Triangles”
Printed by The Bureau of Engraving and Printing · Perf. 12 · Uniform Design Size: 19 x 22 mm · The 3¢ – $5 values have collectible arrow blocks. Note the triangles at upper left and right – See 1890 for comparison with the American Bank Note Company "Baby" Bank Notes. The "Triangles" and other revisions to the 1890 Series were added by G.F.C. Smillie, J. Kennedy, M. W. Baldwin and E. M. Hall A Souvenir Card was issued by the BEP in 1994 in black, and again in 1995 in blue, with engraved designs of each of the the 13 denominations.
Types I, II and III of the 2¢ Stamp
· Type III Vs IV of the 2¢ Stamp
· Types of the 10¢ Stamp
· Types of the $1 Stamp
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Year | Cat. # | EDU | No. Issued | Watermark | Colors/Varieties | Straight-edge | Purpose | ||
1894 | 246 | 10/17/1894 | ~67.3 million | none | bright to dark ultramarine; double transfer; Pl#’s 2, 6, 15, 17, 18, 21, 24, 27, 29, 31, 33, 35 |
possible on all four sides; sheets of 400 cut into four panes of 100 |
The one-cent stamp paid the rate for local letters. |
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1894 | 247 | 11/5/1894 | ~337 million | none | bright to dark blue; double transfer; Pl#’s 18, 21, 24, 27, 29, 31, 33, 35; 98, 99, 101, 102, 119-122 |
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1895 | 264 | 5/16/1895 | ~1.97 billion | double-line USPS | pale to dark blue; double transfer; there are about 75 plate numbers known for this stamp |
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1895 | 264S E | — | "Specimen" overprint in purple |
— | Specimen Stamp | |||||
1897 | 264S O | 125 | "UNIVERSAL POSTAL CONGRESS" overprint in red |
— | Specimen Stamp | |||||
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Year | Cat. # | EDU | No. Issued |
Watermark | Colors/Varieties | Straight-edge | Purpose | ||
1898 | 279 | 1/29/1898 | 5,216,159,932 | horizontal double-line USPS |
green to deep green; yellow to dark yellow green; double transfer; more than 270 plate nos. are known for this stamp |
possible on all four sides; sheets of 400 cut into four panes of 100 |
The new color was to conform with the U.P.U standard, that is, one cent stamps were to be printed in green. |
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1902 | 279a | — | D/L vert. | deep green; note that this a variety and not a booklet stamp |
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1898 | R153 | — | double-line | green; red I. R. overprint (rectangular periods) | — | |||||
1898 | R154 | — | double-line | green; red I. R. overprint (oval periods) | — | |||||
— | R154a | — | double-line | inverted red I. R. (oval periods) | — | |||||
— | R154b | — | double-line | red I. R. (oval periods) on back of stamp | — | |||||
— | R154c | — | double-line | setenant pair; one with red I. R., one without |
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1898 | 279 Revenue | — | double-line | deep green; black overprint "Dr. K. & Co./I. R./7-5-’98" large I.R. |
Private Die Proprietary | |||||
1898 | 279 Revenue | — | double-line | deep green; black overprint with serifs " Dr. K. & Co./I. R./7–’98" small I.R. |
Private Die Proprietary | |||||
1898 | 279 Revenue | — | double-line | deep green; black overprint without serifs " Dr. K. & Co./I. R./7–’98" small I.R. |
Private Die Proprietary | |||||
1899 | Cuba 221 | 4,000,000 | double-line | yellow green with Cuba 1 c. de PESO overprint in black |
U.S. Possession Postage | |||||
1899 | Guam 1 | 25,000 | double-line | deep green with GUAM overprint in black |
U.S. Possession Postage | |||||
1899 | Philippines 213 | 5,500,000 | double-line | yellow green; PHILIPPINES black overprint; inverted overprint |
U.S. Possession Postage | |||||
1899 | Porto Rico 210(a) 3/15/1899 |
1,000,000 | double-line | yellow green; black PORTO RICO overprint at a 36 degree angle; varieties at 25 degrees; PORTO RICU |
U.S. Possession Postage | |||||
1900 | Puerto Rico 215 | 500,000 | double-line | yellow green; black PUERTO RICO overprint at a 25 degree angle |
U.S. Possession Postage |
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Year | Cat. # | EDU | No. Issued | Watermark | Type/Colors/Varieties | Straight-edge/ Pl#s | Purpose | ||
Types I, II, III and IV of the 2¢ Stamp | ||||||||||
1894 | 248 | 10/16/1894 | ~35 million | none | Type I; pink, pale pink; double transfer; vertical pair imperforate horizontally |
straight-edge possible on all four sides; sheets of 400 cut into four panes of 100 Pl#’s. 1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8-13, 16, 19, 20, 22, 23, 25, 26, 30, 32 plate nos. 78-80, 82, 88, 89, 96, 97, 110, 111 (type I) are known Pl#’s 112-117, 124, 125, 144 (type I) are known on Pl#’s 126, 131-133 (type II) are known on Sc251 & Pl#169 (type II) is only on Sc266. Pl#170 is setenant, the first 3 Pl#’s 141-143, 145, 146, 148-158 (type III) are found on Cat. # 252 and Pl#’s 141//503 (type III) are found on Sc267 while The plate number is over stamp 7 in the top right margin except on plate |
The two-cent |
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1894 | 249 | 10/11/1894 | ~96 million | none | Type I; carmine lake; double impression |
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1894 | 250 | 10/11/1894 | ~910 million | none | Type I; carmine, dark carmine; double transfer horizontal pair imperforate between |
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1894 | 250a 10/13/94 | none | Type I; rose | |||||||
1894 | 250b scarlet | none | Type I; scarlet |
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1895 | 251 | 2/12/1895 | ~97 million | none | Type II; carmine; dark carmine |
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— | 251a scarlet | none | Type II; scarlet | |||||||
1895 | 252 | 4/02/1895 | ~83 million | none | Type III; carmine, pale carmine; horiz. pr. imperf. vert. or between; dot in "S" of Cents |
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— | 252a scarlet | none | Type III; scarlet |
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1895 | 265 | 5/2/1895 | ~300 million | double-line | Type I; carmine, deep carmine; double transfer |
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1895 | 266 | 5/27/1895 | ~125 million | double-line | Type II; carmine; type II and III setenant pr. |
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1895 | 267 | 5/28/1895 | ~7.48 billion | double-line | Type III; carmine, deep carmine, reddish carmine; scarlet (267a); double transfer; dot in "S’ of CENTS |
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1895 | 267S E | — | "Specimen" overprint in purple; type III; carmine |
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1897 | 267S O | 125 | (Specimen) "UNIVERSAL POSTAL CONGRESS" blue overprint |
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— | 267 dot in S | — | double-line | Type III; pink; dot in "S" of Cents |
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— | 267S E dot in S | "Specimen" overprint in purple; type III; pink |
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— | 267b vermilion | — | double-line | Type III; vermilion (1899) |
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— | 267c rose carmine | — | double-line | Type III; rose carmine (1899) |
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1897 | 279B | 7/6/1899 | 12 billion | double-line | Type IV; red, light red, deep red; double transfer; triple transfer; upper right triangle not shaded |
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— | 279Bc rose carmine 3/30/1899 | double-line | Type IV; rose carmine, bright carmine rose |
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— | 279Bd orange red 6/8/1900 | D/L horiz. | Type IV; pale to dark to deep orange red |
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— | 279Be orange red vertical wmk. | D/L vert. | Type IV; orange red (as 279Bd); the vertical watermark was an error |
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1897 | 279Bf carmine 11/18/1897 | double-line | Type IV; carmine, reddish carmine |
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1897 | 279Bg pink 12/1/1897 | double-line | Type IV; pink, bright pink |
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— | 279Bh vermilion 2/27/1899 | double-line | Type IV; vermilion, pale vermilion |
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1899 | 279Bi brownish orange | double-line | Type IV; brown orange – Type IV | |||||||
1900 | 279Bj booklet 5/4/1900 | D/L horiz. | Type IV; booklet pane (6); red, light red, orange red |
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1902 | 279Bk red booklet stamp | D/L vert. | Type IV; booklet pane of 6; red (1902) |
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1898 | 267 Revenue pink 7/1/1898 | double-line | pink; type III; blue I. R. overprint (round periods); varieties: inverted or missing overprint; overprint on back |
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1898 | 267 Revenue carmine 7/1/1898 | double-line | carmine; type III; blue I. R. overprint (round periods) |
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1898 | R155 pink 7/1/1898 | double-line | pink; type IV; blue I. R. overprint (round periods); varieties: inverted overprint; overprint in magenta |
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1898 | R155 carmine 7/1/1898 | double-line | carmine; type III; blue I. R. overprint (round periods) |
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1898 | 267 Proprietary pink | double-line | pink; type III; black overprint " Dr. K. & Co./I. R./7-5-’98" – Large I.R. |
Private Die Proprietary | ||||||
1898 | 279B Proprietary pink | double-line | pink; type IV; black overprint " Dr. K. & Co./I. R./7-5-’98" – Large I.R. |
Private Die Proprietary | ||||||
1898 | 267 Proprietary pink | double-line | pink; type III; black overprint with serifs "Dr. K. & Co./I. R./7–’98" – Small I.R. |
Private Die Proprietary | ||||||
1898 | 279B Proprietary pink | double-line | pink; type IV; black overprint with serifs " Dr. K. & Co./I. R./7–’98" – Small I.R. |
Private Die Proprietary | ||||||
1898 | 267 Proprietary pink | double-line | pink; type III; black overprint w/o serifs " Dr. K. & Co./I. R./7–’98" – Small I.R. |
Private Die Proprietary | ||||||
1898 | 279B Proprietary pink | double-line | pink; type IV; black overprint w/o serifs " Dr. K. & Co./I. R./7–’98" – Small I.R. |
Private Die Proprietary | ||||||
1899 | Cuba 222 | — | double-line | reddish carmine; type III; with Cuba 2 c. de PESO overprint in black |
U.S. Possession Postage | |||||
1899 | Cuba 222 vermilion | double-line | vermilion; type III; with Cuba 2 c. de PESO overprint in black |
U.S. Possession Postage | ||||||
1899 | Cuba 222 invert | — | double-line | reddish carmine; type IV; black overprint Cuba 2 c. de PESO ; Varieties: "CUBA" at bottom or inverted; "CUPA" |
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1899 | Cuba 222 vermilion | double-line | vermilion; type IV; with Cuba 2 c. de PESO overprint in black |
U.S. Possession Postage | ||||||
1899 | Cuba 223 | — | double-line | reddish carmine; type III; with Cuba 2½ c. de PESO overprint in black |
U.S. Possession Postage | |||||
1899 | Cuba 223 vermilion | double-line | vermilion; type III; with Cuba 2½ c. de PESO overprint in black |
U.S. Possession Postage | ||||||
1899 | Cuba 223 | — | double-line | reddish carmine; type IV; black overprint Cuba 2½ c. de PESO |
U.S. Possession Postage | |||||
1899 | Cuba 223 vermilion | double-line | vermilion; type IV; with Cuba 2½ c. de PESO overprint in black |
U.S. Possession Postage | ||||||
1899 | Guam 2 | 105,000 | double-line | red; type IV with GUAM overprint in black |
U.S. Possession Postage | |||||
1899 | Guam 2 rose carmine | double-line | rose carmine; type IV with GUAM overprint in black |
U.S. Possession Postage | ||||||
1899 | Philippines 214 | 6,970,000 | double-line | red (light red); type IV with PHILIPPINES black overprint |
U.S. Possession Postage | |||||
1901 | Philippines 214 orange red | double-line | orange red (pale/deep); type IV with PHILIPPINES black overprint |
U.S. Possession Postage | ||||||
— | Philippines 214 reddish carmine | double-line | reddish carmine; type IV with PHILIPPINES black overprint |
U.S. Possession Postage | ||||||
— | Philippines 214 rose carmine | double-line | rose carmine; type IV with PHILIPPINES black overprint |
U.S. Possession Postage | ||||||
1900 | Philippines 214 booklet | double-line | Booklet Pane; red (orange red) ; type IV with PHILIPPINES black overprint |
U.S. Possession Postage | ||||||
1899 | Porto Rico 211 – 3/15/1899 | double-line | reddish carmine; type IV; black PORTO RICO overprint at a 36 degree angle; Varieties: overprint at 25 degrees; FORTO RICO; PORTO RICU; PORTU RICO; PURTO RICO; FURTU RICO |
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Year | Cat. # | EDU | No. Issued | Watermark | Colors/Varieties | Straight-edge | Purpose | ||
1894 | 253 | 10/20/1894 off cover 11/15/1894 |
20,214,300 | none | purple to dark purple; sheets of 400 cut into four panes of 100 Pl#’s 44, 46, 47, 48 sheets of 200 cut into two panes of 100 Pl#’s 91, 95, 103, 107 |
400-subject sheets: possible on all 4 sides 200-subject sheets: |
The three-cent stamp was used as an all-purpose stamp to complete postage requirements as needed. |
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1895 | 268 | 12/1/1895 | 203,057,170 | double-line USPS |
purple to dark purple; double transfer; sheets of 200 cut into two panes of 100 Pl#’s 91, 95, 103, 107, 447-450, 1213-1216 |
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Year | Cat. # | EDU | No. Issued | Watermark | Colors/Varieties | Straight-edge | Purpose | ||
1894 | 254 | 10/16/1894 | 16,718,150 | none | dark brown, brown sheets of 400 (4panes of 100): Pl#’s 45, 50, 51, 59 sheets of 200 (2 panes of 100): Pl#’s 92, 94, 104, 106 |
400-subject sheets: possible on all 4 sides; 200-subject sheets: left or right only |
The 4-cent stamp paid double the first class letter rate and was sometimes used as a substitute for the eight-cent stamp to pay the registry rate, using two stamps. |
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1895 | 269 | 7/22/1895 | 78,167,836 | double-line USPS |
dark brown, dark yellow brown; double transfer sheets of 200 (2 panes of 100); Pl#’s 92, 94, 104, 106, 194-197, 456-463 |
left or right only; sheets of 200 cut into two panes of 100 |
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1898 | 280 | 11/13/1898 | 153,499,379 | double-line USPS |
rose brown; double transfer extra frame line at top – plate 793 |
possible on all 4 sides;
sheets of 400 cut |
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— | 280a | — | double-line USPS |
lilac brown; brownish claret | ||||||
— | 280b | — | double-line USPS |
orange brown | ||||||
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Year | Cat. # | EDU | No. Issued | Watermark | Colors/Varieties | Straight-edge | Purpose | ||
1894 | 255 | 10/23/1894 | 30,688,840 | none | chocolate, deep chocolate, yellow brown; double transfer; lines missing in background oval; vert. pair imperf. horiz.; sheets of 400 (4panes of 100): Pl#’s 49, 53, 54, 56 sheets of 200 (2 panes of 100): Pl#’s 128-130, and 134, 161-164 |
400-subject sheets: possible on all 4 sides; 200-subject sheets: left or right only |
The five-cent stamp paid the U.P.U. rate for foreign mail. |
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1895 | 270 | 9/12/1895 | 123,775,455 | double-line USPS |
chocolate, deep brown; chestnut brown; double transfer; lines missing in background oval; sheets of 200 (2 panes of 100): Pl#’s 128-130, 134, 161-164, 189, 190, 192, 193, 250-253, 351, 353, 357, 359, 389-392 |
left or right only;
sheets of 200 cut |
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Year | Cat. # | EDU | No. Issued | Watermark | Colors/Varieties | Straight-edge | Purpose | ||
1898 | 281 | 3/19/1898 | 279,622,170 | double-line USPS |
bright to dark blue; double transfer; worn plate with diagonal lines missing in background oval |
left or right only;
sheets of 200 cut |
The new color was issued to conform with the U.P.U standard, that is, five cent stamps were to be printed in blue. |
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Year | Cat. # | EDU | No. Issued | Watermark | Colors/Varieties | Straight-edge | Purpose | ||
1894 | 256 | 8/11/1894 | 5,120,800 | none | dull brown; vert. pair imperf. horiz.; plate nos. 28 |
left or right only; sheets of 200 cut |
The six-cent stamp paid triple the first class letter rate and was often used as an all-purpose stamp to complete postage needs. |
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1895 | 271 | 9/14/1895 | 20,712,875 | double-line USPS |
dull brown, claret brown; very thin paper; plate no. 28, 184, 248, 373, 386, 451 |
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— | 271a with USIR watermark | USIR | —– | |||||||
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Year | Cat. # | EDU | No. Issued | Watermark | Colors/Varieties | Straight-edge | Purpose | ||
1898 | 282 | 3/13/1899 | 46,457,450 | double-line USPS |
lake; claret; double transfer |
left or right only; sheets of 200 cut |
the six-cent stamp paid triple the first class letter rate and was often used as an all-purpose stamp to complete postage requirements |
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— | 282a purplish lake | — | double-line USPS |
lake; claret | ||||||
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Year | Cat. # | EDU | No. Issued | Watermark | Colors/Varieties | Straight-edge | Purpose | ||
1895 | 257 | 5/8/1895 | 2,426,100 | none | violet brown, bright violet brown; plate no. 58 |
left or right only; sheets of 200 cut |
The eight-cent stamp paid the registry fee. |
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1895 | 272 | 9/11/1895 | 96,217,820 | double-line USPS |
violet brown, dark violet brown; double transfer; plate nos. 58, 249, 555, 928-931, 1094-1097 |
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— | 272a with USIR watermark | double-line USIR |
—– | |||||||
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Year | Cat. # | EDU | No. Issued | Watermark | Colors/Varieties | Straight-edge | Purpose | ||
1894 | 258 | 11/2/1894 off cover |
12,263,180 | none | dark green, green, dull green; double transfer; plate nos. 55, 62, 63, 64 |
possible on all 4 sides;
sheets of 400 cut |
The ten-cent stamp paid the first class letter plus registry fee; it also paid double the U.P.U. foreign mail rate. |
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1895 | 273 | 7/25/1895 | 59,983,007 | double-line USPS |
dark green, green; double transfer; plate nos. 55, 62-64, 302, 303, 305, 306 |
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Year | Cat. # | EDU | No. Issued | Watermark | Colors/Varieties/Type | Straight-edge | Purpose | ||
1898 | 282C | 12/10/1898 | 42 million | double-line USPS |
brown to dark brown; double transfer Type I – Types of the 10¢ Stamp |
possible on all 4 sides;
sheets of 400 cut |
The ten-cent stamp paid the first class letter plus registry fee; it also paid double the U.P.U. foreign mail rate. The color change was necessary to avoid confusion with the new |
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1898 | 283 | 3/13/1899 | 65 million | horizontal double-line USPS |
yellow to orange brown Type II |
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1900 | 283a with vertical watermark | vertical double-line USPS |
yellow to orange brown Type II |
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Year | Cat. # | EDU | No. Issued | Watermark | Colors/Varieties | Straight-edge | Purpose | ||
1894 | 259 | 12/6/1894 | 1,583,920 | none | dark blue, indigo; plate no. 52 |
left or right only;
sheets of 200 cut |
The fifteen-cent stamp was used mainly for letters over 2 oz. to Europe and on 4th class mail and parcel post packages. |
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1895 | 274 | 5/5/1896 | 7,013,612 | double-line USPS |
dark blue, indigo; plate nos. 52, 264 |
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Year | Cat. # | EDU | No. Issued | Watermark | Colors/Varieties | Straight-edge | Purpose | ||
1898 | 284 | 3/3/1899 | 15,993,313 | double-line USPS |
olive to dark olive green | left or right only;
sheets of 200 cut |
The fifteen-cent stamp also paid triple the U.P.U. foreign mail rate and was often used as an all-purpose stamp to complete postage. The color change was necessary to avoid |
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Year | Cat. # | EDU | No. Issued |
Watermark | Colors/Varieties | Straight-edge | Purpose | ||
1894 | 260 | 12/12/1894 off cover 1/15/95 on |
175,330 | none | orange to deep orange; plate no. 75 |
left or right only; sheets of 200 cut |
The fifty-cent stamp was used on multiple rate letters and parcels. |
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1895 | 275 | 5/5/1896 | 1,065,390 | double-line USPS |
orange to bright orange; plate no. 75 |
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— | 275a reddish orange | — | double-line USPS |
red orange | ||||||
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Year | Cat. # | EDU | No. Issued |
Watermark | Type/Colors/Varieties | Straight-edge | Purpose | ||
1894 | 261 | 1/18/1895 | 26,284 | none | Types of the $1 Stamp Type I; grayish black to black; plate no. 76 |
left or right only; sheets of 200 cut Note that all of the |
The one-dollar stamp was used on high multiple rate letters and parcels. |
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1894 | 261A | 3/22/1895 | 8,762 | none | Type II; grayish black to black; setenant pairs and multiples with Cat. # 261; plate no. 76 |
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1895 | 276 | 4/9/1897 | 192,449 | double-line USPS |
Type I; greenish black to black; plate no. 76 |
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1895 | 276A | 4/6/1896 | 63,803 | double-line USPS |
Type II; greenish black to black; setenant pairs and multiples with Cat. # 276; plate no. 76 |
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Year | Cat. # | EDU | No. Issued |
Watermark | Colors/Varieties | Straight-edge | Purpose | ||
1894 | 262 | 7/6/1895 off cover 7/15/1895 on cover |
10,027 | none | bright blue; plate no. 84 |
left or right only; sheets of 200 cut |
The two-dollar stamp was used primarily on parcels. |
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1895 | 277 | 7/18/1895 | 31,720 | double-line USPS |
bright blue; plate no. 84 |
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— | 277a | — | double-line USPS |
dark blue; plate no. 84 |
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Year | Cat. # | EDU | No. Issued |
Watermark | Colors/Varieties | Straight-edge | Purpose | ||
1894 | 263 | 7/6/1896 | 6,251 | none | dark green; plate no. 85 |
left or right only; sheets of 200 cut |
The five-dollar stamp was used primarily on heavy parcels. |
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1895 | 278 | 11/3/1896 | 26,965 | double-line USPS |
dark green; plate no. 85 |
Notes:
The EDU information is based on the best information available. If you know of a documented usage earlier than the one listed, please let us know and the information will be updated as appropriate.
Bibliography and suggested additional reading:
Basic Information:
The Postage Stamps of the 19th Century,
Volume II, by Lester
Brookman (1966)
The 1949 Cat. # U.S. Specialized Stamp Catalogue Cat. # Stamp & Coin Co. Limited
Notable Auction Sales:
The Whitpain Collection of U.S. 1894-1898 Bureau Issues – Robert A. Siegel
Auction Galleries #977 Dec. 2-3, 2009
Design dimensions:
The Postage Stamps of the United States,
John Luff (1902 and 1937)
Colors:
The Encyclopedia of the Colors of United States Postage Stamps –
Volume 3 – Issues of 1894-1907, by Roy H. White (1981)
The Micarelli Identification Guide to U.S. Stamps: Regular Issues
1847-1934 by Charles N. Micarelli