The Columbians
by John F. Dunn (May 10, 1987)
 
The New York Times
229 West 43rd Street, 10th Floor
New York, NY  10036
 
     "The collecting of stamps is deserving of encouragement, for
it tends to the cultivation of artistic tastes and the study of
history and geography, especially on the part of the young."
This declaration from an 1892 United States Post Office announce-
ment explains the reason for the 1893 Columbian set.
     At the time of issue, this 16-stamp set was the first United
States commemorative.  With a face value of $16.34 the set had
its share of detractors.  While the Post Office announcement may
not have appeased the critics, it served as justification within
governmental circles.
     It was believed that the introduction of commemorative
stamps in the United States to celebrate and honor important
events and individuals "was in accordance with the practice of
other great postal administrations on occasions of national
rejoicing . . ."  In this international tradition the stamps were
issued during the Chicago, Ill. exposition that celebrated the
400th anniversary of the discovery of America by Christopher
Columbus.
     But the stamps did not prove to be the financial boon
anticipated by the post office.  Sales to collectors were much
less than expected.  There was some speculation in dollar values,
but most speculators closed out their "investments" at a substan-
tial loss.
     The set, released Jan. 2, 1893, did meet with some favorable
comment, for it was an attractive issue.  But businessmen ob-
jected to the large size of the stamps.  Many postmasters,
desirous of being rid of the problem issues, ordered stocks of
the regular stamps from Washington, but the requisitions were
instead from the surplus stocks of Columbian stamps.
     If the Columbians were to be placed on sale today, collec-
tors would stampede the sales counters for the stamps have become
synonymous with philatelic investing.  Some collectors prefer
used issues, but the marketplace is much more interested in well-
centered unused copies with original gum and either never hinged
or lightly hinged.  A set of very fine never hinged Columbians
can be expected to realize its full catalogue value of $12,000.
     All but two stamps in the set depict scenes from Columbus'
adventures.  The $4 offers portraits of Columbus and Queen
Isabella and the $5 shows a profile of the explorer.
     The stamps can be collected on cover.  Columbian Exposition
cancellations, first day cancels and complete sets on one cover
are desirable.  But Columbians showing commercial usages and
specialized rate or route markings are not widely sought.
 
Copyright 1986, The New York Times Company, The New York Times.  Re-
produced for use in a database with the permission of Mead Data
Central, Inc., provider of the LEXIS›NEXIS services.
 
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