1893 Columbian Exposition Issue, Complete Set of 16

United States of America · 1893 · 1¢ to $5

This complete set of 16 stamps was issued to commemorate the 400th anniversary of Christopher Columbus's first voyage to the Americas and to promote the World's Columbian Exposition held in Chicago. Each stamp features a detailed engraving depicting a different scene from Columbus's life and voyages, from his initial pleas for funding to his landing in the New World. The designs were based on famous paintings and are considered masterpieces of the engraver's art.

Issued in 1893, these were the first commemorative stamps ever produced by the United States, setting a precedent for all future commemorative issues. Their high face values, particularly the dollar-denominated stamps, were controversial at the time but helped fund the exposition.