US 3 Cent NATO Commemorative Postage Stamps (1952)

This item consists of two individual, identical postage stamps, still attached to a piece of what appears to be part of the original selvage or paper from the stamp sheet. Each stamp is a U.S. postage stamp with a denomination of 3 cents. The primary color of the stamp is a monochromatic purple or violet hue, printed on a light background. The central design features a stylized depiction of a flaming torch, often a symbol of liberty or enlightenment, positioned above a triangular or pyramidal base which may represent a mountain or a foundation. Radiating lines emanate from behind the torch, suggesting light or energy. Above the torch, the acronym 'NATO' is prominently displayed in large, sans-serif letters, with smaller text above it reading 'NORTH ATLANTIC TREATY ORGANIZATION'. Below the central design, the phrase 'PEACE • STRENGTH • FREEDOM' is inscribed, with dots separating each word. The 'U.S. POSTAGE' and '3¢' denomination are located in the upper left and upper right quadrants of the design, respectively. Both stamps exhibit perforations along all four edges, indicating they were separated from a larger sheet. The perforations appear relatively clean, though the surrounding paper fragment suggests they were not carefully removed from their original context. The stamps show signs of having been used, as evidenced by a cancellation mark across the '3¢' denomination on both stamps. The specific cancellation type is not clearly discernible from the image but indicates postal use. Visible condition issues include the aforementioned cancellation marks. The color appears consistent, without significant fading or discoloration, although exact vibrancy is hard to assess. The paper itself shows some slight creasing or unevenness, particularly on the rough-cut selvage attached to the stamps. The stamps appear to be from the mid-20th century, likely from the early 1950s, considering the formation of NATO and common stamp denominations of that era. Overall, the stamps present as genuine used examples of this specific issue, with their primary value being as collectible philatelic items.