British West Indies Stamp Appraisal

Jamaica 1½d Postage Stamp (King George V)

This item is a used postage stamp from Jamaica, featuring a portrait of King George V. The stamp exhibits a primarily sepia or reddish-brown coloration, printed on paper. Its dimensions appear to be consistent with standard postage stamp sizes of the era, likely rectangular with perforated edges, although only the right and left perforations are clearly visible. The central design is an oval vignette depicting a right-facing profile portrait of King George V, characterized by a detailed rendering of his facial features and hair. Above the oval, a crown motif is prominently displayed, flanked by the denomination '1½d' on both the left and right sides, within decorative rectangular frames. Below the central oval, the word 'JAMAICA' is inscribed in clear, capital letters. The stamp has been used and bears a black circular postmark, significantly obscuring parts of the King's portrait and the surrounding design elements. The postmark leaves a distinct circular impression with some unclear alphanumeric characters, indicating its franking. Visible condition issues include this heavy postmark, which diminishes the clarity of the central image. The perforations along the edges appear mostly intact, though some wear or minor creasing might be present due to handling and age. The paper itself seems to have yellowed slightly with time, characteristic of vintage philatelic items. The overall craftsmanship suggests a standard government printing process typical for colonial postage stamps of the early to mid-20th century. The intricate details of the portrait and the surrounding decorative elements indicate a good quality engraving process for its time. The style is distinctly early 20th-century British colonial, reflecting the era of King George V's reign (1910-1936).