You can’t go wrong with U.S. 1893 W.T. Sherman stamp

Stamp Market Tips by Henry Gitner and Rick Miller

You can’t go wrong by acquiring the best examples you can afford of classic U.S. stamps. They are the bedrock of a U.S. collection.

The definitive series of 1890-93 was a landmark in U.S. stamp production. Like the previous 1879-88 series, the stamps were produced under government contract by the American Banknote Co.

However, stamps of the 1890-93 series were smaller in size and different in design from what had gone before, setting the standard for definitive issues that continued well into the current century.

Ten of the 11 stamps in the series were issued in February 1890. The 8¢ lilac Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman stamp (Scott 225) was issued March 21, 1893, to pay the new 8¢ registry fee that went into effect on Jan. 1, 1893.

Sherman (1820-1891) was a brilliant and ruthless Union commander during the Civil War and, along with Gen. Ulysses S. Grant, one of the primary engineers of the Union victory. After the war, he served as commanding general of the U.S. Army from 1869 to 1883.

The Scott Specialized Catalogue of United States Stamps and Covers values the 8¢ Sherman stamp at $45 in unused, original gum condition, $135 in mint, never-hinged condition and $17 in used condition.

The stamp is a good buy in very fine grade and unused, original gum condition or mint, never-hinged condition at around 80 percent of Scott catalog value. A used example with a light cancel is a good buy at around $15.

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