United States 2 Cent George Washington 'Carmine Type I' Postage Stamp (1890-1893)

This item is a United States 2 cent postage stamp, issued as part of the 1890-1893 Regular Issues series, prominently featuring a profile portrait of George Washington. The stamp's primary color is a rich carmine red, as indicated by the 'Carmine Type I' designation above the stamp in the album. The portrait of Washington is rendered in a lighter tone, likely a black or dark grey ink, providing contrast against the red background. The stamp has a classic rectangular shape with perforated edges, indicating it was separated from a sheet. Visible on the stamp itself are the denomination '2 CENTS' at the bottom and the numeral '2' in both bottom corners. A circular cancellation mark, appearing in black ink, is noticeable over Washington's face, suggesting it has been used. The cancellation obscures some of the facial details but indicates historical use. The stamp is mounted within a philatelic album, which surrounds it with a black rectangular outline and labels it 'George Washington'. The album page itself is white with decorative black border elements. The overall condition shows signs of use, primarily the cancellation mark and possibly some minor wear to the perforations. The colors appear somewhat faded or muted due to age, but the carmine hue is still distinctly present. The detail in Washington's portrait, though partially obscured, suggests fine engraving craftsmanship typical of stamps from this era. The stamp’s presentation in an album hints at its preservation by a collector.

I have examined the provided image of this United States 2 Cent George Washington 'Carmine Type I' Postage Stamp from the 1890-1893 series. The stamp appears authentic, consistent with the design and printing methods of the era, featuring Washington's profile in contrast to the carmine red background. The 'Carmine Type I' designation aligns with the visible hue. Its perforated edges and the '2 CENTS' denomination are correctly rendered. The presence of a circular black cancellation mark over Washington's face confirms its historical use and authenticity as a circulated stamp. This cancellation, while authenticating usage, significantly impacts value as it obscures key details and is often considered a detraction in collectible stamps, particularly for aesthetic reasons. The colors appear somewhat muted due to age, which is expected. The condition, due to the heavy cancellation and signs of wear on the perforations, would be considered 'used' and 'fine' to 'very good' at best. Market conditions for common 1890-1893 US stamps are generally stable but with lower values for used, heavily canceled examples. This specific stamp (Scott #220) is not considered rare. Demand is moderate among general US stamp collectors. The most significant factor impacting value here is the prominent cancellation, which directly lowers its appeal and a premium. Without in-person examination, I cannot definitively assess paper quality, gum presence (though unlikely given its used status), or microscopic printing details, which could influence value slightly. True authenticity verification would benefit from a physical inspection to rule out expertly crafted fakes or repairs, though unlikely for a stamp of this value. Based on the visible condition and typical market prices for heavily canceled examples of Scott #220, I estimate the appraisal value to be in the range of $2 to $8.