1869 US Pictorial Issue Inverts

In 1869, the United States Post Office Department did something it had never done before: it put pictures on stamps. For the first time, American postage stamps featured images beyond portraits of dead statesmen. A horse and rider galloped across the 2-cent. A locomotive steamed across the 3-cent. Columbus's flagship sailed across the 15-cent. The Declaration of Independence signing adorned the 24-cent. And an eagle clutching a shield spread its wings across the 30-cent.

The 15-cent, 24-cent, and 30-cent stamps used a new two-color printing process, with each color applied in a separate pass through the press. On a few sheets, the paper was fed into the second pass upside down. The result: stamps where the central vignette was printed upside down relative to the frame. These are the 1869 Pictorial Issue inverts, and they rank among the most valuable stamps in American philately.

Quick Value Summary

• Item: 1869 US Pictorial Issue Inverts (15-cent, 24-cent, 30-cent)

• Year: 1869

• Category: Stamps

• Value Ranges:

  • 15-cent Columbus invert (Scott #119b): $25,000 - $250,000
  • 24-cent Declaration invert (Scott #120b): $25,000 - $300,000
  • 30-cent Eagle & Shield invert (Scott #121b): $50,000 - $500,000+

• Record Sales: The 30-cent invert on cover (attached to an envelope) has sold for over $1 million

• Known Surviving Copies: 15-cent: ~100; 24-cent: ~90; 30-cent: ~50

• Rarity: Very Rare to Extremely Rare

The Story

The 1869 Pictorial Issue was revolutionary and controversial. The American public had grown accustomed to seeing only presidents and founding fathers on their stamps. The new series, printed by the National Bank Note Company under a government contract, featured a range of American imagery: a post rider on the 2-cent, a locomotive on the 3-cent, the SS Adriatic steamship on the 12-cent, the Landing of Columbus on the 15-cent, the signing of the Declaration of Independence on the 24-cent, an eagle with shield and flags on the 30-cent, and Lincoln on the 90-cent.

Public reaction was mixed to hostile. Critics called the stamps gaudy and undignified. The New York Times complained about them. Postmasters received letters of protest. The entire series was withdrawn and replaced within a year, making the 1869 Pictorials among the shortest-lived regular-issue US stamps.

But the real significance of the series, at least for collectors, came from the two-color printing. The four highest denominations (15-cent through 90-cent) used two separate print runs to apply the frame color and the vignette color. This required feeding each sheet through the press twice, aligning it precisely each time. On a few sheets of the 15-cent, 24-cent, and 30-cent values, the paper was inserted upside down on the second pass, inverting the central image.

How many inverts were produced? Nobody knows exactly. The National Bank Note Company printed 1,584,600 copies of the 15-cent stamp. About 100 inverts survive. The 24-cent had a print run of 234,750 with roughly 90 inverts surviving. The 30-cent had 244,110 printed with only about 50 inverts known. The survival rates suggest that relatively few sheets were misprinted, and that most inverts were caught and destroyed before distribution.

The 30-cent invert is the rarest and most valuable. It features the eagle and shield design, and when inverted, the eagle appears to be diving headfirst, which has a certain dramatic appeal that collectors love. The 24-cent, showing the Declaration signing upside down, is perhaps the most visually striking. The 15-cent Columbus invert is the most available of the three, though "available" is relative when you are talking about 100 surviving copies.

How to Identify Them

• 15-cent (Scott #119b): Blue and brown. The frame (border and denomination) is printed in blue. The center vignette shows Columbus's ship. On the invert, the ship sails upside down within the blue frame.

• 24-cent (Scott #120b): Green and violet. The frame is green. The vignette depicts the signing of the Declaration of Independence in violet. On the invert, the signing scene is flipped.

• 30-cent (Scott #121b): Blue and carmine. The frame is blue. The central design shows an eagle with shield and flags in carmine/red. On the invert, the eagle is upside down.

• Paper and gum: Original 1869 stamps were printed on hard, white wove paper. Unused examples may retain traces of original gum, though most have been hinged or soaked.

• Perforations: Gauge 12 on all values.

• Cancellations: Most surviving inverts are used (cancelled) copies. The type and placement of the cancellation affects value, with light cancels commanding premiums.

Common confusions: The normal (non-inverted) versions of these stamps are collectible but worth far less ($200-$5,000 depending on condition). Always verify the orientation of the vignette relative to the frame before assuming you have an invert. Also, modern reproduction prints exist and can fool inexperienced collectors.

Value by Condition

15-Cent Columbus Invert (Scott #119b)

Used, average condition: $25,000 - $50,000 Most surviving examples are used with moderate cancellations. Centering varies, and many copies have small faults (thin spots, creases, pulled perforations).

Used, sound and well-centered: $50,000 - $100,000 Fault-free examples with reasonable centering and light cancellations. These are genuinely uncommon even among the ~100 surviving copies.

Unused/Mint: $100,000 - $250,000 Unused examples are very rare. Original gum adds a premium. The finest known examples approach $250,000.

24-Cent Declaration Invert (Scott #120b)

Used, average condition: $25,000 - $60,000 Similar survival profile to the 15-cent. Faulted or heavily cancelled examples fall in the lower range.

Used, sound and well-centered: $60,000 - $150,000 Unused/Mint: $150,000 - $300,000

30-Cent Eagle & Shield Invert (Scott #121b)

Used, average condition: $50,000 - $100,000 The rarest of the three with only ~50 known. Even average examples command significant premiums over the other values.

Used, sound and well-centered: $100,000 - $300,000 Unused/Mint: $300,000 - $500,000+ On cover: $500,000 - $1,000,000+ Examples still attached to their original envelope (on cover) are extraordinarily rare and have sold for over $1 million. Cover use proves the stamp was actually used for postage, adding historical significance.

Trending: Values for all three inverts have been stable to slightly appreciating. Major auction appearances are infrequent, which supports prices. Institutional interest (museums, philatelic foundations) provides a floor.

Authentication and Fakes

At these values, authentication is not optional. It is the starting point.

• Expert certification: The Philatelic Foundation (PF) and the American Philatelic Expertizing Service (APEX) are the primary certifying bodies for US stamps. A certificate from either organization is essential for any 1869 invert.

• Common fakes: Genuine normal stamps with the vignette cut out and re-glued upside down. Under magnification, the paper fibers at the edges of the vignette will show evidence of manipulation. UV light can also reveal glue or paper inconsistencies.

• Reprints and reproductions: No official reprints of the 1869 inverts were made, but various commemorative reproductions have been produced over the years. These are usually on different paper stock and are not perforated to the same gauge.

• Chemical alteration: Some counterfeiters attempt to chemically remove cancellations to create "unused" examples from used ones. Expert examination of the paper under magnification can detect this.

• Cost: Expertizing fees at the Philatelic Foundation run $25-$100+ depending on the stamp's value. This is trivial relative to five- and six-figure stamp values.

Where to Sell

• Auction houses: Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries, H.R. Harmer, and Daniel F. Kelleher Auctions specialize in high-value US stamps. Seller's commissions: 10-15%. These firms maintain relationships with the most active buyers of classic US rarities.

• Dealers: Major stamp dealers like Mystic Stamp Company or specialty dealers will purchase directly, typically at 70-85% of retail value.

• Stamp shows: The American Philatelic Society (APS) holds major shows annually where dealers actively buy.

• Costs to budget: Expertizing certificate ($25-$100), professional mounting/presentation ($50-$200), insured shipping ($50-$200), and auction fees (10-15%).

Think you might have a rare stamp? Upload a photo to Curio Comp for a quick AI assessment.

Related Items