Rare Iraqi Stamp Appraisal

Iraqi Postage Stamp featuring King Faisal I (likely 1932-1934 issue)

This item is a vintage Iraqi postage stamp, predominantly green in color, featuring a portrait of a regal male figure in profile, facing left. The figure is depicted wearing a military-style uniform with epaulets, and has a distinguished mustache. This is widely recognized as King Faisal I of Iraq. The stamp is rectangular with a decorated border and appears to be perforated along all four edges, indicating it was part of a larger sheet. In the upper left corner, 'IRAQ' is printed horizontally, and 'POSTAGE' is printed vertically along the left side. In the bottom left, the denomination 'FILS' is visible. Arabic script is present along the top right and vertical right side of the stamp, corresponding to 'Iraq' and the denomination. The overall aesthetic suggests an early 20th-century design, likely from the period of the Iraqi monarchy, specifically the 1930s when King Faisal I stamps were widely issued. The condition shows visible signs of use; there is a distinct black ink cancellation mark prominently across the face of the portrait and extending to the left edge, indicating it has been used for postal service. There are also some minor smudges or discolorations on the stamp itself, particularly around the portrait and the lower right border. The perforations appear largely intact, though the exact cut from the sheet is not perfectly centered in the provided image. The paper appears to be typical stamp paper, possibly cream-colored or off-white, though this is difficult to ascertain precisely due to the image quality and lighting. The printing quality for the era seems consistent with standard photogravure or line engraving methods, providing clear detail to the portrait and lettering.