1890 US 90-Cent Perry (Scott #229)

If you had to pick one stamp from the entire 1890-93 Regular Issue series to crown as the prize of the set, it would be Scott #229 without a second thought. The 90-cent Perry is the highest denomination of the last classic bank note series, printed in just over 219,000 copies, and its high face value meant most everyday collectors never got close to a mint example. Today it remains one of the genuinely challenging classic US stamps to find in top condition, and serious philatelists track it carefully.

What You Are Looking At

Scott #229 depicts Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry, the naval hero who secured American control of Lake Erie during the War of 1812. The stamp was issued February 22, 1890, printed by the American Bank Note Company on flat plate presses, perforated 12, with no watermark. The color is orange, which shows off well against the engraved portrait. Physically, the stamp measures smaller than the previous Bank Note series that preceded it, part of a deliberate redesign across the entire 1890-93 set.

Perry's portrait here derives from contemporary engravings of the commodore, showing him in naval uniform with his characteristic determined expression. The design shares its general framing format with other values in the series but the orange color sets it apart visually on the album page.

Why So Few Unused Copies Exist

Here is the practical reality of 19th-century philately: a 90-cent stamp in 1890 was not exactly pocket change. That denomination was used almost exclusively on heavy or overseas correspondence, primarily by businesses. Ordinary collectors of the era could acquire the lower-denomination stamps without much financial pain, but buying a mint 90-cent Perry meant spending real money just to put it in an album. The result was a very small number of unused copies were ever saved, and of those, fewer still survive in objectively fine or better condition.

The total printing of 219,721 stamps sounds reasonable, but most were used on actual mail, canceled, and discarded or survived as damaged copies. Unused examples are legitimately scarce, and pristine mint copies with original gum are rare enough to command serious premiums at auction.

The Last of an Era

Scott #229 holds another distinction worth knowing: the 1890-93 Regular Issue was the last series printed by the American Bank Note Company for about 50 years. When the Bureau of Engraving and Printing took over exclusive stamp production, it ended a long era of private bank note company printing that had defined American stamps since the mid-19th century. The #229 Perry is literally the final chapter of that tradition at the top denomination, making it historically significant beyond just its scarcity.

The American Bank Note Company had printed US stamps since 1879, and their work on the 1890 series maintained the high engraving quality associated with their name. The smaller format introduced in 1890 was a practical modernization, but the craftsmanship remained excellent. Looking at a well-centered #229, the fine engraving of Perry's portrait and the clean orange ink show what bank note printing at its best could achieve.

Condition Grades and What They Mean for Value

With a stamp this scarce in top grades, condition drives value more dramatically than with common issues. Here is what the grade spectrum looks like for Scott #229:

Grade	Description	Used Value (approx.)	Unused/Mint Value (approx.)
Superb (98)	Perfect centering, deep color, flawless gum if mint	$1,500+	$5,000+
Extremely Fine (90)	Near-perfect margins, excellent centering	$400-600	$2,000-3,500
Very Fine (80)	Well-centered, four clear margins	$180-250	$900-1,500
Fine-Very Fine (75)	Slightly uneven but generally good margins	$120-160	$600-900
Fine (70)	Average centering for the issue	$75-100	$350-550
Very Good (60)	Noticeably off-center, design clear on all sides	$35-55	$150-250
Good (50)	One or more sides close to design	$15-30	$75-150

The Scott 2024 Catalogue lists the used value at $140 (F-VF) and unused (hinged) at $650. Certified examples at the VF-XF level regularly exceed catalogue, especially for used copies with attractive cancels. A well-centered used #229 with a neat circular date stamp or target cancel is exactly what advanced collectors seek.

Cancellation Types Matter

For used copies, the cancellation can dramatically affect value. Neat circular date stamps (CDS) in black or blue are most desirable. Manuscript cancels, pen cancels, and smeared or heavy cancels reduce value. Fancy cancels (stars, numerals, cork patterns) can actually add a significant premium for the right collector. A VF used #229 with a clean CDS cancel will fetch considerably more than the same stamp with a heavy manuscript pen cancel.

Forged cancels are a real concern with classic US issues, so certificates from the Philatelic Foundation (PF) or Professional Stamp Experts (PSE) are standard for any copy valued over a few hundred dollars. A cert confirms both genuineness and grade.

Gum Condition for Unused Examples

For mint copies, gum condition is everything. The grading hierarchy runs:

• NH (Never Hinged): Original gum with no hinge remnant or disturbance. Most valuable.

• LH (Lightly Hinged): Minor hinge remnant present. Significant premium over OG.

• OG (Original Gum, heavily hinged): Original gum with heavier disturbance.

• HR (Hinge Remnant): A piece of hinge paper remains attached.

• NG (No Gum): Gum missing, usually re-gummed copies that have been cleaned.

Re-gummed copies are a known hazard with this stamp. Any mint #229 offered at a suspicious price deserves a certificate. Legitimate NH examples command a 100-200% premium over catalogue for NH versus OG.

What Makes a Great #229 to Collect

For most collectors, a used F-VF or VF copy with a legible date stamp represents the sweet spot. You get a genuine scarce classic US stamp at an accessible price point (roughly $140-250 range), and if you find one with an attractive cancel, you have a stamp that will always be in demand.

If you are building a complete 1890-93 set, the #229 is the key value, the stamp you work toward last. Complete sets in uniform VF grade are genuinely impressive philatelic achievements.

For those with deeper pockets, a certified VF-XF or XF used copy sits in the $400-600 range and represents the stamp at its best without reaching into the stratosphere. Mint NH examples at EF or better are rarely offered publicly and tend to go in estate sales or specialized auction appearances.

Authentication and Buying Tips

Few things to watch for when buying:

• Cleaned copies: Stained or toned stamps that have been chemically treated to improve appearance. Look carefully under good lighting.

• Regummed: Mint examples with suspiciously fresh gum at low prices.

• Fake cancels on mint stamps: Genuine mint copies sometimes had fake cancels applied to make them appear used and thus reduce the obvious value, back when collectors were less sophisticated.

• Certificate: For any copy over $100, a PF or PSE certificate is worth requesting or paying for.

Reputable dealers specializing in classic US include Mystic Stamp Company, Kenmore Stamp, and specialized philatelic auction houses. The major auction houses (Siegel, Cherrystone) offer certified copies regularly.

The Perry Stamp Legacy

Oliver Hazard Perry appeared on US stamps multiple times, but the 1890 issue was a fitting final large-format portrait before the Bureau of Engraving and Printing took over production. Perry's famous message after the Battle of Lake Erie, "We have met the enemy and they are ours," became one of the defining quotes of American naval history. Having that legacy commemorated on the highest denomination of one of America's most collected classic series gives the #229 a weight beyond just its philatelic statistics.

For collectors of classic US stamps, a quality example of Scott #229 belongs in any serious collection. It is scarce without being impossibly rare, historically rich, and immediately recognizable as the crown jewel of the 1890-93 set.

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