1945, 3¢ Alfred E. Smith, Purple, United States (Scott #937)

This stamp was issued to commemorate Alfred E. Smith (1873–1944), the influential four-time Governor of New York and the first Roman Catholic presidential candidate from a major party. The postage stamp was released on November 26, 1945, marking the first anniversary of his passing. The design features a portrait of Smith flanked by the years of his birth and death.

This is a genuine specimen of the 1945 commemorative issue. Scott #937 is a very common stamp, with a total printing quantity of approximately 308,587,700. Because of the heavy machine cancellation and the off-center perforation, this specific copy holds standard collector value rather than premium philatelic value.

Technical Specifications:

• Catalog Number: Scott #937.

• Denomination: 3 Cents (3¢).

• Release Date: November 26, 1945.

• Printing Method: Rotary Press.

• Perforation: 11×1021​.

• Color: Purple (often described as Dark Lilac).

• Subject: Portrait of Alfred E. Smith.

Condition Analysis:

• Status: Used. The stamp bears a heavy black ink cancellation consisting of parallel wavy lines (typical of a machine cancel), which partially obscures the portrait and the central design.

• Centering: Fine (F). The design is noticeably shifted toward the right side of the stamp. The left margin is significantly wider than the right margin. While the perforations do not cut into the design frame, the margins are visibly unbalanced.

• Reverse Side: As a used copy, the gum is absent. The paper shows natural signs of aging consistent with mid-20th-century postal issues. No significant thins, tears, or creases are detected under standard magnification.

• Perforations: Generally intact and well-defined. There is minor "shagginess" on the teeth along the left and bottom edges, which is typical for stamps separated manually from large sheets.