Rhode Island History Appraisal

Rhode Island Tercentenary Postage Stamp (1936)

This item is a used postage stamp issued by the U.S. Post Office in 1936 to commemorate the Rhode Island Tercentenary. The stamp features a central illustration of Roger Williams, standing in period attire, holding what appears to be a book or scripture in his left hand. Below his feet, his name 'ROGER WILLIAMS' is clearly visible. The color of the stamp is a muted purple or lilac hue. At the top, 'U.S. POSTAGE' is printed, flanked by the years '1636' and '1936', marking the span of the tercentenary celebration. In the lower left corner, there is a small crest featuring an anchor with the word 'HOPE' above it, likely representing the Rhode Island state motto. To the lower right, the denomination '3' is encircled. The bottom border of the stamp reads 'RHODE ISLAND TERCENTENARY'. The stamp is rectangular with perforated edges, typical of postage stamps. Its condition shows clear evidence of use, indicated by multiple horizontal black cancellation lines across the face of the stamp, obscuring parts of the central figure and text. There are no immediate signs of tears or major creases from the visible image, but the cancellation marks are quite prominent. The paper appears to be discolored slightly at the edges, consistent with age. Despite the cancellation, the details of the design are still largely discernible, attesting to the quality of the engraving.