American Postage Appraisal

1934 'Mother of America' 3-cent US Postage Stamp (Scott 737)

This is a United States postage stamp from 1934, commonly known as the 'Mother of America' stamp or the 'Mother's Day' stamp, Scott Catalogue number 737. It features a portrait of a woman, often believed to be the artist James McNeill Whistler's mother, seated in profile. The stamp has a monochromatic, gray or purplish-gray color scheme. The overall design is rectangular with perforated edges, typical of postage stamps. The top left corner displays 'U.S. POSTAGE' in a serif font. Below this, the words 'IN MEMORY AND IN HONOR OF THE MOTHERS OF AMERICA' are printed in smaller capital letters, indicating the commemorative nature of the stamp. The denomination 'THREE CENTS' is clearly visible at the bottom left. The stamp depicts a seated figure of an elderly woman, dressed in a long, striped or textured dress, with a bonnet or cap covering her head. Her hands are clasped in her lap. To the far left, a small pot or urn is visible on a stand. The background is simple, suggesting an interior setting. The stamp bears several heavy black horizontal lines and a single diagonal line, which appear to be cancellation marks, indicating that this stamp has been used. The perforations around the edges are visible, though some appear slightly torn or irregular, particularly along the bottom edge where another stamp might have been attached. The image quality is moderate, but details such as the stripes on the woman's dress and the fine lines of the portrait are discernible. The cancellation marks obscure some of the text and the figure, affecting its visual appeal and likely its collector's value compared to an uncancelled specimen. The item exhibits signs of age and use, consistent with a vintage postage stamp that has passed through the postal system. The craftsmanship is typical of US postal printing from the early 20th century, characterized by detailed engravings.