Documentary Stamp Appraisal

United States Documentary Revenue Stamp, One Dollar, Series of 1871-1872

This is a United States documentary revenue stamp, specifically a one-dollar denomination from the series issued between 1871 and 1872. The stamp features a central vignette of a female allegorical head, possibly representing Liberty or an ancient goddess, depicted in profile facing right. Her hair appears styled with a wreath or laurel crown, suggesting classical influence. The color of the stamp is predominantly green and black, with the background or shading of the portrait in black and the main frame and text in green, creating a two-tone effect. The oval frame surrounding the portrait is inscribed with 'UNITED STATES INTERNAL REVENUE' in an arched formation above, and 'DOCUMENTARY' below. At the bottom, a prominent '1 DOLLAR' is displayed, with the numeral '1' enclosed within an ornate shape and 'DOLLAR' written beneath in a blocky, uppercase typeface. The stamp exhibits a perforated edge on all four sides, typical for postage and revenue stamps of its era, indicating it was designed to be separated from a sheet. The overall condition appears to be relatively good, though the image quality makes it difficult to assess finer details of wear or potential damage. There are no obvious tears or significant creases visible. The printing seems clear and detailed, indicative of the quality standards for government-issued stamps of the period. The paper itself appears to be aged, with a slightly darkened, off-white or yellowish hue on the unprinted areas around the perforations. No specific maker's marks or signatures are discernable from the provided image, as these stamps were typically produced by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing.