#281 - 1898 Blue 5ยข
See below for details
Basic Info
5¢
Blue, dark blue
Printing Method: Engraved
Subject: Ulysses S Grant
Number issued: 279,622,170
Perforations: P12
Watermark: Double Line USPS
Scott #: 281
Earliest date of use: March, 1898
Value
Used
20¢ - 40¢
No postmark with gum (MH)
$4 - $10
Full perfect gum, no postmark
no trace of stamp hinge mark (MNH)
$32.50 - $50
Plate #'s
#281 was issued with the following plate #'s
200 subject plates
389-392, 407-410, 834-837, 948-951
980-983
1085-1087, 1119-1202, 1217-1220
A full Pane
A full pane of 100 of #281, there were two panes to a sheet of 200
A change of color
As a postal clerk in a foreign country it was difficult to ascertain the value of the foreign countries stamp. In order to assist the Universal Postal Union (UPU) requested all its member countries to standardise the colors of each value. So a local standard letter rate would be red, a standard overseas rate blue, etc etc. To confirm with the correct color for the 5¢ it was changed from brown to blue.
Inspiration for the design
The design was taken from this 1873 photograph of Ulysses S. Grant by C.M. Bell
Earliest Known Use
The earliest known use of #281, March 19th, 1898
Proofs
281-P1
Large die proof on India die sunk on card
281-P1
281-P2a
Roosevelt die proof on India, mounted on gray card
281-P2a
The 1898 Bureau Series
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