British Queen Victoria Jubilee Issue 1887 2s 6d Purple Postage Stamp Appraisal

British Queen Victoria Jubilee Issue 1887 2s 6d Purple Postage Stamp

This is a used British postage stamp featuring the profile of Queen Victoria, specifically the 2 shillings and 6 pence denomination from the 1887 'Jubilee' series. The stamp is printed in a deep purple or lilac ink on white paper with visible perforations along all four edges. The central design includes a left-facing profile of Queen Victoria within a circular frame, surrounded by an ornate rectangular border with leaf motifs. The top inscription reads 'POSTAGE & REVENUE', and the bottom reads '2 SHIL & 6 PENCE'. Corner letters 'F' and 'L' are visible at the bottom, with 'F' and what appears to be another letter at the top corners, used for sheet positioning. The condition shows heavy usage; it features a prominent black circular date stamp (CDS) cancel and additional blue manuscript or 'X' markings across the face, which were often used to indicate fiscal or revenue usage or to prevent reuse. The centering is slightly off towards the top-right. There is evidence of minor toning and edge wear consistent with a late 19th-century philatelic specimen. The craftsmanship reflects the high-quality line engraving and typography standard of the Victorian era British postal system.