Fleet of Christopher Columbus - Ultramarine

Fleet of Columbus, the three caravels, Santa Maria, Nina, and Pinta, from a Spanish engraving. Color, ultramarine blue.

The Department placed upon sale on Monday, January 2, 1893, at post offices throughout the country, a new series of postage stamps (not including the 8-cent denomination, issued later) and stamped envelopes known as the Columbian series. The issue of these stamps ceased April 12, 1894.

The Columbian stamps were issued in the denominations of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, 15, 30, and 50 cents, and of $1, $2, $3, $4 and $5. These stamps differ in size and form from those of the 1890 series the engraved space being ⅞ by 1 ¹¹⁄₃₂ inches, each stamp bearing a design commemorative of the discovery of America by Columbus.

The stamps are executed from line engravings on steel, the general design of the upper portion of all of them being substantially the same. The details of this design are, first, a white-faced imprint of the years "1492" and "1892", in the upper left- and right-hand corners, respectively; then in white-shaded capitals beneath, in a waved line, the words "United States of America", below which, in a narrow tablet conforming to the curved frame of the picture under it, are the words of denomination; for example, "Postage, two cents", "Postage, two dollars", etc.

These words end on either side of the stamp in a space of circular form with ornamental surroundings, within which are Arabic numerals of value—standing alone in the case of denominations under $1, but accompanied by the dollar mark in denominations of $1 and upward, as "2" (meaning cents), $2, etc. Underneath all this is the scene represented, inclosed in a plain white frame with arched top, extending nearly the entire length of the stamp, and taking up in every case probably three-fourths of its whole face, the appropriate designation of the picture being given in small white capitals at the bottom.