Bureau Issue Stamp Appraisal

US 2 Cent George Washington Postage Stamp, Green, Bureau Issue

This item is a United States postage stamp, likely from the 'Bureau Issue' series, featuring a profile portrait of George Washington. The stamp is predominantly green on a lighter, possibly off-white or cream-colored paper. The central design is a circular frame with the words 'UNITED STATES POSTAGE' around the top arc and 'TWO CENTS' around the bottom arc. The number '2' is prominently displayed within the 'TWO CENTS' text. Inside this circular frame is a solid green background with a white silhouette profile of George Washington facing left. The outer edge of the circular frame features a serrated or wavy pattern, and there are small asterisk-like designs on either side of the portrait within the circular border. The stamp exhibits visible signs of use, including a heavy black postmark cancellation that crosses over the left side of the portrait and extends into the surrounding paper. There is a dark, possibly ink or dirt, stain on the upper right corner, slightly infringing on the circular design. The paper itself shows signs of age and discoloration, with general yellowing or browning around the edges. A distinct vertical crease or tear is visible running from the top border, through the 'UNITED STATES' text, and into the left side of the circular frame, suggesting damage to the stamp. The stamp appears to be perforated, though the exact perforation count is not clearly discernible from the image. Its style indicates an early to mid-20th-century American Philatelic design, characterized by classical portraiture and clear denomination. The quality of printing seems consistent with mass-produced governmental issues from that era.