Oregon Trail Stamp Appraisal

1993 Oregon Trail Sesquicentennial 29-Cent Postage Stamp

This is a United States commemorative postage stamp issued in 1993 to mark the 150th anniversary (Sesquicentennial) of the Oregon Trail. The stamp features a horizontal orientation with a face value of 29 cents as indicated by the 'USA 29' marking in the upper right. The design showcases a topographic map of the Western United States, highlighting the trail's path with a thick red line stretching from Missouri to Oregon. Below the trail, the text 'Oregon Trail' is printed in a red serif font, with the commemorative dates '1843-1993' displayed in the lower right corner. The color palette includes earth tones for the map, blue for the Pacific Ocean, and prominent red for the trail and text. Physically, the stamp exhibits standard perforations along the top and right edges. Notably, the bottom edge appears to be a straight edge from a sheet margin, showing the color registration test marks (blue, cream, brown, and black squares). The condition shows slight signs of handling, with a minor vertical crease near the left side and some unevenness in the paper fibers along the perforated edges. It appears to be an unused, mint specimen based on the lack of a postmark cancellation. The printing quality is sharp, indicative of the high-standard gravure or offset lithography used by the US Postal Service during this era.