Card Proofs of the
19th Century

1881-1882
Scott 205-209

A new design for the five cent stamp was adopted in 1882 following the assassination of President James A. Garfield. Prior to that, the plates for the one, three, six and ten cent stamp were deepened to allow for stronger impressions and easier wiping of the plates.³⁸  The stamps from this group would have been included in all printings except the one in 1879, which preceded the release of these stamps.

The following information applies to this series:

Scott Number	Denomination	Color
205P4	Five cents	Yellow Brown
206P4	One cent	Blue
207P4	Three cents	Blue Green
208P4	Six cents	Rose
209P4	Ten cents	Brown

1883
Scott 210-211

On March 3, 1883, Congress approved a reduction in the letter rate, stipulating that it would now be two cents for the first half ounce with each half ounce thereafter being charged the same rate. In October, 1883, the USPOD directed that Washington’s portrait be used on the two cent stamp and instructed that Andrew Jackson be used on a new four cent stamp which would meet the double rate requirement. These Scott 210 and 211, respectively³⁹ .

These stamps would have had card proofs prepared for the last four printings. Determination of printing is made by measurement of the card stock used.

Scott Number	Denomination	Color
210P4	Two cents	Red Brown
211P4	Four cents	Green

1887-88
Scott 212-218

In 1887, a new design was issued for the one cent stamp. Additionally, the USPOD decreed new colors for the two cent, four cent, five cent, thirty cent and ninety cent stamps. ⁴⁰ 

The one cent is extremely rare as a card proof and is the key to a collection. It is sometimes offered as a card proof but is in reality a hybrid, being an India proof mounted on card. ⁴¹ 

The following listing provides the basic information about this series:

Scott Number	Denomination	Color
212P4	One cent	Ultramarine
213P4	Two cents	Green
214P4	Three cents	Vermillion
215P4	Four cents	Carmine
216P4	Five cents	Indigo
217P4	Thirty cents	Orange Brown
218P4	Ninety cents	Purple

1890-93 Issues
The Small Bank Note Series

American Bank Note Company (ABNC)

In 1889, the USPOD put out for bid the new contract with more stringent requirements, specifying the colors to be used for each denomination and requesting large size stamps, as were currently being used, and a new smaller size, which ultimately would be adopted. After a failure by the original contract winner to meet requirements, a second request for bids was made and would ultimately be awarded the ABNC as their price was substantially under that of the only other bidder. At the end of the day, the USPOD decided to go with the smaller size stamps as that offered further savings. ⁴² 

The following information is germane to this issue:

Scott Number	Denomination	Color
219P4	One cent	Ultramarine
219DP4	Two cents	Lake
220P4	Two cents	Carmine
221P4	Three cents	Purple
222P4	Four cents	Dark Brown
223P4	Five cents	Chocolate
224P4	Six cents	Brown Red
225P4	Eight cents	Lilac
226P4	Ten cents	Green
227P4	Fifteen cents	Indigo
228P4	Thirty cents	Black
229P4	Ninety cents	Orange

³⁸ Luff, 109-110; Brookman, Vol. III, p. 17
³⁹  Luff, p. 112; Brookman, Vol. III, pp. 5, 11
⁴⁰  Luff, p. 114
⁴¹ Snee, p. 759

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