Two Dollar Columbian Stamps

Two Dollar Columbian stamps are valuable and highly sought after by stamp collectors due to the relative scarcity of the stamp and its beautiful artistry.      

The engraving is an interesting design of Columbus in chains in a scene that is right out of the late 15th century.

I'm not sure I'd want to try and do business in this sort of environment but it seems to have worked out as eventually Columbus would connect with Queen Isabella of Spain and she funded his voyage west where he eventually landed in the Americas.

This stamp was printed with a relatively small run of 45,550 the two dollar Columbian stamp is a scarce stamp today with stamp values ranging from the low hundreds of dollars for decent used examples to many thousands of dollars for well-centered, faultless examples with never hinged original gum.

This is one of the few stamps that has value even with faults.  Now, the values dramatically decline as with all stamps for poor centering or faults but even an off-center or faulty example of the $2 Columbian will retail for over $100. 

This United States stamp, identified by the Scott Catalog as #242, is inexorably linked with the $1 Columbian stamp as the two share many similarities such that neither stamp really distinguishes itself from the rest of the Columbian stamps.  

Not only are they similar in color but they were also printed in similar quantities of nearly twice that of the higher $3 and up values.  The net result is the catalog values of the $1 and $2 stamps are the same and both are considered the "entry level" dollar values of the Columbian series before really getting into the upper echelon of US Stamps culminating in the Five Dollar Columbian.

In addition to the relative scarcity of surviving examples, this stamp is rarely well centered and many stamps have been damaged or destroyed over the years.  

Add all those factors together and the result is that fault-free, perfectly centered One Dollar Columbian stamps have huge stamp values and can sell for many thousands of dollars.  

However, there are only a handful of existing $2 Columbians that are in such perfect condition to drive those sorts of prices.  These rarities do come up for sale at stamp auctions occasionally so can be bought but are highly prized by the stamp collecting world.   

Most surviving examples are like those pictured on this page - nice examples worth up to a few hundred dollars each but not a true rarity.  

But if you ever find any condition example of this stamp in a collection, you have found a real prize as most of these are firmly in the hands of stamp dealers and stamp collectors that know what they have...usually with high price tags attached! 

As with many of the 1893 stamps commemorating Columbus, mint original gum stamps must be carefully examined because the price differences between a no gum stamp and one that is never hinged original gum are substantial.  

Mint stamps are frequently regummed, often skillfully, so it is especially important to be sure you know what you are paying for.  

If you don't feel comfortable with the gum types used in the 1893 series or your ability to detect a regumming then you should seriously consider getting a certificate anytime you buy stamps as mint original gum. 

The Two Dollar Columbian stamps, commemorating the 400th anniversary of Columbus' famous voyage, was issued in 1893 and will always be highly collectible as it is part of the most popular of all US stamps sets.

Return to the main US Stamps Columbians page from this Two Dollar Columbian Stamps page.

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