British Machin Definitive Postage Stamp - 9p Violet

This is a United Kingdom definitive postage stamp from the long-running 'Machin' series, which features the sculpted profile of Queen Elizabeth II by Arnold Machin. The stamp is printed in a distinct shade of violet-blue and carries a denomination of 9p in the lower-left corner. The physical construction consists of perforated paper, typical of standard Royal Mail issues. The profile portrait is rendered in a clean, monochromatic style with delicate shading that highlights the detail of the Diadem and the texture of the Queen's hair. This specific denomination suggests it was issued during the decimal currency era, likely in the early-to-mid 1970s. Regarding condition, the stamp is in used/circulated state and shows significant physical distortion; it is noticeably curled or warped rather than lying flat. While the perforations appear mostly intact along the edges, there is some minor irregularity visible at the bottom. There are no visible postmarks or cancellations on the face, which is unusual for a stamp that has been removed from an envelope, though the warping suggests previous exposure to moisture. The printing quality is consistent with mass-produced photogravure or lithographic techniques of the period, showing sharp definition in the sculptural details against a solid-color background.