AI Appraisal Estimate

This item is a used postage stamp, specifically a $1 denomination 'Woodrow Wilson 1913-1921' stamp from the United States Presidential Series of 1938. The stamp is predominantly white or off-white paper, printed with purple ink, commonly known as 'Violet'. It features a portrait of President Woodrow Wilson, depicted from the chest up, facing right. The upper border of the stamp reads 'UNITED STATES POSTAGE'. Down the left and right sides of the stamp are decorative vertical bands composed of small chevron-like patterns or 'arrows'. A single five-pointed star is visible in the top left corner, and a similar star resides between 'WOODROW WILSON' and '1913-1921' in the bottom center. The denomination '$1' is present in both the bottom left and bottom right corners. The stamp exhibits characteristic perforated edges, indicating it was torn from a sheet. A prominent cancellation mark diagonally crosses the stamp, starting from the upper right quadrant and extending towards the lower left. This cancellation mark appears to be from a roller cancellation, indicated by the partial visibility of text, possibly 'STOWN, PA.', 'SAN', and what looks like a date range or numbers '0-192', although heavily obscured. The cancellation is black or very dark ink and is partially obscured but still evident, indicating the stamp has been used for postal service. The overall condition appears fair, with the perforations intact but the cancellation mark is quite heavy. There are no obvious tears or creases visible, however, the clarity of the image does not permit a definitive assessment of minor wear or corner damage. The paper quality seems standard for a postage stamp of its era.

Based on my visual examination of the provided image, this is a used 1938 Presidential Series Woodrow Wilson $1 stamp. The stamp's authenticity appears to be legitimate for a stamp of this type, consistent with known examples of the Scott 834 issue. The design, color (violet ink), and denomination '$1' are typical of this series. The perforations are intact, and while there's a heavy diagonal roller cancellation mark, it confirms the stamp's postal usage and is not atypical for circulated examples from this period. The condition, as determined from the image, is fair to good for a used stamp. There are no obvious tears or creases, although a definitive assessment of minor wear, corner damage, or thinning cannot be made without a physical inspection. The heavy cancellation mark, while obscuring some of the design and text, is a significant factor in valuation. Stamps with light or neat cancellations generally command higher prices. The partial text 'STOWN, PA.' visible within the cancellation suggests a common postmark context. From a market perspective, this particular stamp (Scott 834) is generally readily available in used condition. Therefore, rarity is not a significant factor in driving up its value. Demand for common used examples is moderate among philatelists. Comparable sales for heavily cancelled examples of this stamp typically fall within the lower end of the market. My appraisal value of $5 - $15 reflects the common nature of this stamp in used condition and the impact of the heavy cancellation. Factors that would significantly impact value upward include a very light, neat cancellation, or being in unused, mint original gum condition. Conversely, significant damage (tears, thins, major creases) would lower the value. It is crucial to note that this appraisal is based solely on a visual examination of the image. For full authentication and a more precise condition assessment, an in-person physical examination is required to check for hidden imperfections (such as thins, creases not visible in the image, or repairs), assess gum condition (if applicable), and confirm paper type and adherence to known Scott catalog specifications. Provenance documentation, while helpful for rare items, is less critical for a common used stamp like this. Scientific testing is generally not necessary unless authenticity is strongly doubted, and unusually, questioned.