James Buchanan Stamp Appraisal

James Buchanan 15 Cents United States Postage Stamp

This item is a used postage stamp, featuring a portrait of James Buchanan, the 15th President of the United States. The stamp is presented in a muted blue-gray color with black ink for the portrait, text, and frame. It has a rectangular shape with perforated edges, typical of many vintage postage stamps, suggesting it was originally part of a larger sheet of stamps and detached via perforation. The central design prominently displays a right-facing profile portrait of James Buchanan, rendered in a detailed, engraved style. Above his head, the words 'UNITED STATES POSTAGE' are clearly visible. Below the portrait, his name 'JAMES BUCHANAN' is printed, followed by what appears to be a smaller inscription of his presidential term dates '1857-1861', although the latter part is somewhat obscured by a cancellation mark. The denomination '15 CENTS' is boldly displayed at the bottom center of the stamp, flanked by the number '15' on both the bottom left and bottom right corners. The stamp has been heavily cancelled with multiple intersecting black ink lines, indicating it has been used for postal services. These cancellation marks obscure some of the design elements, particularly over Buchanan's face and the upper right corner. There is general wear consistent with a used stamp, including possible minor creasing or fading not clearly discernible from the image. The perforations appear largely intact, though minor imperfections might exist. The quality of the printing suggests a standard governmental issue, likely from the early to mid-20th century, given its style and the specific individual depicted on a regular issue postage stamp.