$1.00 Columbian (241). Mint N.H. with part imprint selvage at right, radiant color as fresh as the day it was printed, fantastic centering with wide and balanced margins on all sides, long and full perforations all around

EXTREMELY FINE GEM. THIS IS WITHOUT QUESTION ONE OF THE FINEST MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLES OF THE $1.00 COLUMBIAN ISSUE, WHICH DEPICTS THE FAMOUS SCENE OF QUEEN ISABELLA PLEDGING HER JEWELS. THIS STAMP HAS BEEN AWARDED THE GRADE OF XF-SUPERB 95 BY P.S.E. -- THIS IS THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED TO DATE AND ONE OF ONLY THREE TO ACHIEVE THIS GRADE.

According to Brookman, only 55,050 copies of the $1.00 Columbian were issued. It was sold out before all of the other dollar values, probably because it was the most affordable of the dollar-value stamps. Speculation soon drove the price to $5.00 but it soon fell again, to about $1.50.

The theme of the stamp, Isabella pledging her jewels to finance Columbus's voyage, is known to most fifth-grade students who study the voyage of Columbus. However, the offer was never accepted, as financing was found elsewhere.

With 2001 P.F. and 2005 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $40,000.00). This is the highest grade awarded to date, and only two others share this grade. It is the highest grade we have ever offered in one of our auctions -- the Scarsdale sale contained a 90.

Image Magnifier / Download

PSE Population Report

Market data

Power Search for Comparables