The $5 dollar stamp was the highest denomination stamp issued in its time. By calculating the inflation rate for the past 110 years, this would have been equal to mailing off a $135 letter today in the US. Not many where printed and why they are so desirable to collectors,
I wonder if the US was trying to match the extravagance of the £5 stamp issued by Great Britain. Canada came along in 1897 and issued a similar set ending in a high value of $5 (though with less artistic variety).
I can't seem to find a previous SCF thread that dealt with the reason for the high value Columbians. The short story is that it was a very successful money-making scam to help pay for the Exposition. No doubt some more knowledgable SCF member will provide the unabridged long version.
Gilles le Timbre, 20,000,000,000DM in the early 30's german stamp sound like a mountain of money...but maybe in those years in Germany this was the rate for a couple of letters or a beer.
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Posted 07/18/2012 11:15 pm
