1895 3¢ Jackson - U.S. #268

U.S. #268 1895 3¢ Jackson

• Issued: October 1895
• Issue Quantity: 203,057,170
• Printed by: Bureau of Engraving and Printing
• Watermark: Double line USPS
• Perforation: 12
• Color: Purple

U.S. #268, the 1895 3¢ Jackson stamp, was issued in October 1895 and remained in circulation until it was replaced by the 1902 issue. Post the Spanish-American War, this stamp was overprinted for use in Cuba, Guam, and the Philippines.

Why Watermarks Were Added in 1895

The decision to add watermarks to U.S. postage stamps in 1895 was a response to the "Chicago Counterfeits" scandal. This notorious incident came to light when Edward Lowry alerted Postal Inspector James Stuart to a suspicious advertisement in the Chicago Tribune. The advertisement offered a significant number of 2¢ stamps at a discounted rate, prompting an investigation that led to the confiscation of over 40,000 counterfeit stamps.

Further investigations and subsequent arrests, including those of individuals like Mrs. Lacy, Tinsa McMillan, George Morrison, and Warren Thompson, revealed the extent of the counterfeit operation, resulting in the seizure of over 70,000 counterfeit stamps.

Watermarked Stamps

Watermarks, patterns embedded during paper manufacture, were introduced to discourage counterfeiting. The inaugural U.S. watermark featured the letters "USPS" (United States Postal Service), double-lined and repeated across the paper sheet. While the positioning of the watermark was not initially considered during stamp printing, occasional errors occurred, such as the printing of stamps on sheets with a USIR (United States Internal Revenue) watermark. These errors, attributed to the Bureau of Engraving and Printing's (BEP) production of both postage and revenue stamps, prompted speculation about deliberate actions due to paper shortages.

Identification of watermarks typically involves utilizing a watermark tray and benzine fluid, especially for stamps with colored backgrounds like those in the 1895 series.