1934, 2¢ Grand Canyon, Red Orange, United States (Scott #741)

This stamp is part of the 1934 National Parks Year series, a set of ten stamps issued to promote the beauty of the American wilderness. The series was championed by Secretary of the Interior Harold L. Ickes and President Franklin D. Roosevelt, a passionate philatelist. The 2-cent denomination features a breathtaking view of the Grand Canyon in Arizona, specifically depicting the "Temple of Vishnu" and "Wotans Throne" as seen from the North Rim.

This is a genuine specimen of the 1934 National Parks Issue. Scott #741 is a staple of American philately, with over 74 million copies printed. Due to the wavy line machine cancellation and the off-center alignment (shifted right), this specific copy holds standard collector value rather than premium investment value.

Technical Specifications:

• Catalog Number: Scott #741.

• Denomination: 2 Cents (2¢).

• Release Date: July 24, 1934.

• Printing Method: Rotary Press.

• Perforation: 11.

• Color: Red Orange.

• Subject: Grand Canyon National Park (North Rim view).

Condition Analysis:

• Status: Used. The stamp features a black ink machine wavy line cancellation, a common postal marking of the era, which crosses the central design horizontally.

• Centering: Fine (F). The design is noticeably shifted to the right and slightly upward. The left and bottom margins are significantly wider than the right and top margins.

• Reverse Side: The gum is absent, which is expected for a used copy. The paper shows natural signs of aging consistent with the 1930s era; no obvious thins, creases, or tears are visible under current inspection.

• Perforations: Generally intact and well-preserved for a circulated stamp, showing standard separation characteristics from a rotary press sheet.