the ColUMBian iSSUe

by Mike Farrell

While the 2 cent Columbian certainly saw the most widespread use, the other values in the series present postal historians with a myriad of avenues to explore. From registered mail, foreign destinations, special delivery, and more, the 16 denominations produced for the Columbian Exposition can be combined in countless interesting ways. The dollar values ($1 through $5) were not issued for a specific postal purpose, and instead were mostly used by philatelists looking to create souvenirs for themselves. Mike Farrell’s collection of the Columbian Issue traces the development, production, and use of each value, which is no small task for what was up to that point the largest series of stamps ever produced by the United States.