1938, 4½¢ White House, Dark Gray, United States (Scott #809)

This stamp is part of the Presidential Issue of 1938, colloquially known by philatelists as the "Prexies." This definitive series was designed to replace the Fourth Bureau Issue and primarily features portraits of the first 29 U.S. Presidents. The 4½-cent denomination is a notable exception in the low-value range of the series, as it depicts the White House instead of a presidential portrait.

This is a genuine specimen of the 1938 Presidential Series. Scott #809 is a widely produced issue, with a total printing quantity exceeding 677 million. Because of the heavy machine cancellation and the off-center alignment, this specific copy holds standard collector value, typically sought for "used" space-fillers or specialized postal history collections rather than high-end investment.

Technical Specifications:

• Catalog Number: Scott #809.

• Denomination: 4½ Cents (4½¢).

• Release Date: July 11, 1938.

• Printing Method: Rotary Press (Engraved).

• Perforation: 11×1021​.

• Color: Dark Gray.

• Subject: The White House (South Front view).

Condition Analysis:

• Status: Used. The stamp bears a heavy black ink cancellation. The legible "DIST" and "D.C." lettering indicates it was likely processed through the Washington, D.C., postal system.

• Centering: Fine (F). The design is shifted toward the bottom and right edges. The top and left margins are significantly wider than the others. While the perforations do not clear the design frame on all sides, the margins are clearly unbalanced.

• Reverse Side: The gum is absent, which is expected for a used specimen that has been soaked from an envelope. There are no obvious "thins" (paper thinning) or repairs visible under standard examination.

• Perforations: Generally intact; however, there is minor "shagginess" and irregular tooth length on the right and bottom edges, which is a common characteristic of rotary press stamps separated by hand.