John Quincy Adams Postage Stamp Appraisal

United States 6 Cents John Quincy Adams Postage Stamp

This item is a used United States postage stamp featuring a portrait of John Quincy Adams, the sixth President of the United States. The stamp is predominantly orange in color with black printed text and a black cancellation mark. It is rectangular in shape with perforated edges, typical of a postal stamp. The central design depicts a right-facing profile portrait of John Quincy Adams. Above his head, the words 'UNITED STATES POSTAGE' are printed, though partially obscured by the cancellation. Below the portrait, his name 'JOHN QUINCY ADAMS' is visible, along with '6-1829' which likely refers to his presidential term. The denomination '6 CENTS' is clearly printed at the bottom center, flanked by the numeral '6' on both the left and right lower corners. The stamp exhibits significant wear consistent with postal use, including a heavy, diagonal black cancellation mark that spans from the top left to the bottom right, obscuring much of the portrait and some text. There are visible creases and minor tears, particularly along the perforated edges, and the corners appear slightly rounded from handling. The paper shows toning, indicative of age. The perforations are relatively intact around most of the edges, though some show slight fraying. The overall condition suggests it has been circulated and collected, rather than being mint and unused. The style and design are consistent with early to mid-20th-century American postal stamps, possibly from the Presidential Series (also known as the 'Prexies' or '1938 Presidential Series'). The image quality suggests a gravure or recess printing method, delivering fine detail in the portrait. The craftsmanship is standard for government-issued postage, focusing on clarity and durability for postal service.