1869 George Washington 90-cent Essay
United States · 1869 · 90¢
The stamp features a profile portrait of George Washington facing left, set within an ornate oval frame. 'U.S. POSTAGE' is inscribed at the top, and 'NINETY CENTS' is at the bottom.
This is an essay for the 1869 Pictorial Issue, a landmark series for US stamps due to its departure from traditional portrait-only designs. The 90-cent value was the highest denomination, intended for heavy international mail.
Printing Method
Engraved
Image: <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Post_Office_Department" class="extiw" title="en:United States Post Office Department">United States Post Office Department</a> · License: Public domain
Estimated Values by Condition
Perfectly centered, fresh, no faults
Well centered, fresh colors
Nicely centered, minor flaws
Average centering, acceptable
Off-center or visible wear
Prices are approximate market estimates for educational purposes. Actual values depend on specific factors including cancel type, margins, and provenance.
