American Stamp Appraisal

Sino-American Friendship Commemorative Stamp (5 Fen)

This item is a commemorative postage stamp, likely from the Republic of China (Taiwan), celebrating Sino-American friendship. The stamp features a dark green background with an ornate, framed border. At the top left, two flags are depicted: the flag of the Republic of China (Taiwan) in red, white, and blue, positioned above the flag of the United States of America, with its red and white stripes and blue field with white stars. The flags appear to be waving, adding a dynamic element to the design. To the right of the flags, a detailed map of China is visible, outlined in a lighter shade against the dark green background. Chinese characters are interspersed throughout the design, with '念紀年十五百國開國美' (Commemorating 1500 years of American Nation Building - likely referring to a long period of diplomatic or cultural exchange, or possibly a mistranslation/misinterpretation of a different Chinese phrase, as the US itself is not that old) and '分伍' (Five Fen) clearly legible at the top. The bottom section of the stamp features the text '政部國民華中' (Ministry of Posts, Republic of China) and '司公亲分甜美' which could refer to a printing company or perhaps a more nuanced phrase related to the celebratory theme. A prominent numeral '5' is enclosed in a stylized circular design in the bottom left corner, indicating the stamp's denomination of 5 Fen. The stamp exhibits classic perforation marks around its edges, characteristic of postage stamps. The color palette is predominantly dark green, red, white, and blue, with lighter greens for the map details. The overall condition appears to be good, with no obvious major tears, creases, or discoloration visible in the provided image. The printing quality seems high, with crisp lines and clear details, indicative of professional production. The style appears late 19th to mid-20th century, consistent with the era of similar commemorative stamps from the Republic of China.