Prehistoric Animals Stamp Appraisal

1989 U.S. Postage Stamp: The Age of Reptiles (Prehistoric Animals Series)

This is a United States commemorative postage stamp issued in 1989 as part of the 'Prehistoric Animals' set. The stamp features a detailed, multi-colored mural illustration titled 'The Age of Reptiles,' originally painted by Rudolph Zallinger for the Yale Peabody Museum. The design displays several iconic dinosaurs including a Brontosaurus, Stegosaurus, and Allosaurus in a lush, prehistoric swamp environment. The stamp is horizontally oriented with standard perforations (perf 11) on all four sides. The paper appears slightly off-white, likely due to toning or the characteristic stock of the period. A notable black ink cancellation mark or overprint is visible across the center, which appears to be a slogal killer reading 'LAW DAY / FREEDOM UNDER LAW,' indicating it may have been postmarked or specially processed. The text at the bottom clearly reads 'THE AGE OF REPTILES' in a serif font. The printing process used was offset-lithography combined with intaglio, which provided the fine detail seen in the foliage and reptilian skin. Condition-wise, the stamp shows minor edge wear and some corner softening from handling, but the perforations remain largely intact. There is a slight yellowing consistent with age, though the primary colors of the illustration—greens, blues, and purples—remain relatively vibrant. The stamp carries a 25-cent denomination, though the numeral is partially obscured by the black overprint.