1938, 22¢ Grover Cleveland, Vermilion, United States (Scott #827)

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 features portraits of the first 29 U.S. Presidents. The 22-cent denomination honors the 22nd (and 24th) President, Grover Cleveland.

This is a genuine specimen of the 1938 Presidential Series, presented here as a horizontal pair. Scott #827 had a total printing quantity of approximately 50 million. Due to the machine cancellation and the centering, this specific pair holds standard collector value for used specimens of this series.

Technical Specifications:

• Catalog Number: Scott #827.

• Denomination: 22 Cents (22¢).

• Release Date: November 22, 1938.

• Printing Method: Rotary Press.

• Perforation: 11×1021​.

• Color: Vermilion.

• Subject: Portrait of Grover Cleveland, based on a medal by the U.S. Mint.

Condition Analysis:

• Status: Used. The stamps bear a black ink machine cancellation (wavy line cancel) common for the era, which partially obscures the portraits and the "United States Postage" text.

• Centering: Fine (F). The design on both stamps is noticeably shifted to the right. The left margins are significantly wider than the right margins. While the perforations do not cut into the design frame, the margins are unbalanced.

• Reverse Side: The gum is absent as it is a used copy. The paper shows natural signs of aging consistent with the period, but no obvious thins, tears, or repairs are visible.

• Perforations: Generally intact across the pair. There is minor "shaggy" wear on the top and bottom edges, typical of stamps separated from sheets in a high-volume postal environment.