German Empire Postal Stamp (12 Pfennig)

This is a German Empire postal stamp, denominated at 12 Pfennig, featuring a profile portrait of an individual, likely Kaiser Wilhelm II given the historical context of 'Deutsches Reich' stamps of this era. The stamp is predominantly red with black printing for the portrait and text. The denomination '12' appears in both the upper left and upper right corners. The text 'Deutsches Reich' is visible along the bottom edge in a Gothic-style script, partially obscured by a cancellation mark. The portrait shows a man with a mustache, facing left. The stamp exhibits a heavily used condition, characterized by a prominent black cancellation mark consisting of multiple vertical bars over the central portrait, and a partial circular or semicircular postmark at the bottom, further obscuring the text. The edges show standard perforations, indicating it was torn from a sheet. The paper appears to be of standard stamp quality for the period, showing some signs of age-related wear, light creasing, and possible discoloration around the edges. There are no visible tears or significant damage to the paper itself, apart from the expected handling and cancellation marks typical of a circulated postage stamp. The style and design are classic for European stamps of the late 19th or early 20th century. The quality of printing for the portrait appears fine, even with the heavy cancellation.