Used 2 Cent John Greenleaf Whittier US Postage Stamp

This item is a used United States postage stamp, denominated at 2 cents, featuring the portrait of John Greenleaf Whittier. The stamp is predominantly red or reddish-purple in color, rectangular in shape, and has perforated edges indicating it was separated from a sheet. The portrait of Whittier, depicted with a beard and facing slightly to the right, is centrally located within a decorative rectangular frame. Above the portrait, the text "UNITED STATES POSTAGE" is visible, while below, the denomination "2 CENTS" is flanked by the numeral "2" on either side. At the very bottom, beneath the portrait, the name "JOHN GREENLEAF WHITTIER" is printed in smaller text. Crucially, the stamp bears clear signs of postal cancellation. A heavy, dark, four-bar machine cancel extends horizontally across the stamp, obscuring parts of Whittier's face and the denomination. Additionally, letters that appear to spell "CANTE" are overlaid on the left side of the portrait, suggesting a handstamp or another part of the cancellation mark. The presence of these cancellation marks indicates the stamp has been used for postage. The perforations appear relatively intact, though some wear or minor damage might be present along the edges due to removal from an envelope or album. The color saturation appears good, despite the cancellation, and there are no immediately obvious tears or major creases from the visible image.